Syrian Coalition Calls on UN Security Council to Immediately Intervene to Stop Russia’s Atrocities in Syria

Press release

Syrian Coalition

Media Department

February 5, 2018

The Syrian Coalition strongly condemns the barbaric onslaught by the Russian occupation and the Assad regime forces targeting mainly civilians and residential neighborhoods in the towns and villages of Idlib province.

On Sunday (February 4) Russian jets conducted no fewer than 40 airstrikes on the towns of Maarat al-Nu'man, Kafranbel, Mourek, Mardabsa, Ghadfa, Al-Tih, Tahtaya, Ma’asaran, Jarjanaz, Khan Sheikhoun, Kafarzeita, Um al-Khalakhil and Saraqib in rural Idlib. Assad regime air force also dropped chlorine-filled bombs on Saraqib in yet a new violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

The relentless bombings have killed and wounded dozens of civilians. The Russian and Assad regime jets and helicopters were still hovering over many parts of Idlib province on Sunday evening. Rescue workers are working under extremely difficult conditions to rescue the injured and those trapped in the rubble in the areas targeted by the airstrikes and barrel bomb attacks.

The Syrian Coalition calls on the UN Security Council to take immediate action and issue a resolution condemning Russia’s atrocious crimes against the Syrian people. Strict measures need to be taken to put an immediate end to the war crimes and genocide Russia is committing in Syria as well as to end its support for the Assad regime which is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, including with the use of chemical weapons. A UN Security Council resolution is also urgently needed to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are held accountable, namely the Russian and Assad regimes and its allied foreign militias as well all those who have committed crimes against the Syrian people.

The international community is obliged to condemn this criminal campaign and to work at all levels to stop it and protect civilians in Idlib, the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta, and all parts of Syria.