Syrian Coalition: Terrorism Cannot Be Fought by Targeting Civilians

Press Release Original in arabic

Syrian Coalition

July 19, 2016

Aircrafts belonging to the international anti-ISIS coalition, whose mission should be to fight ISIS, have committed two horrifying massacres in the neighborhood of Alhazzawya in the town of Manbij and the nearby Altoukhar area over the past two days.

The Syrian Coalition holds the international anti-ISIS coalition fully responsible for the massacres in Manbij and its surroundings.

The airstrikes have left nearly 100 civilians killed and dozens more wounded, while a number of civilians are still trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings. Local sources in the area confirmed that the jets of the international coalition are currently carrying out similar attacks on villages south of Manbij.

The Syrian Coalition strongly condemns the airstrikes on Manbij and considers them a brutal murder against innocent civilians. The Coalition calls for an immediate halt to bombardment on villages, towns and residential areas in Syria. It also calls for an investigation into the massacres committed in Manbij and for holding accountable those responsible.

The Syrian Coalition emphasizes the need to prioritize the protection of Syrian civilians in any operation targeting the murderous Assad regime and terrorist groups. All measures should be taken to protect civilian lives.

Fighting terror cannot be achieved through the brutal targeting of civilians, nor should it justify the targeting of civilians in any way. These last incidents are not the first to occur and the international anti-ISIS coalition has not yet opened any investigation into previous attacks on civilians.

These massacres explicitly contradict announcements made by the US and Russia on the protection of civilians in Syria.

The Syrian Coalition’s presidential body will hold an emergency meeting in the coming hours to discuss the situation in Manbij and to consider appropriate action to address such a flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.

Mercy for the fallen heroes, recovery for the wounded, and freedom for the detainees.

Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.