Truce Must Not Be Used as a Means to Continue the Killings in Syria

Press Statement

Syrian Coalition

Media Office

March 12, 2016

The Syrian Coalition condemns yesterday's bombing by Assad’s air force of residential neighborhoods in Aleppo, which is a crime that violates the recent “cessation of hostilities” agreement. The Assad regime is evidently exploiting the agreement to continue with the killing of innocent civilians in Syria.

Todays’ bombing of Aleppo represents a serious escalation and the latest in the regime’s repeated breaches of the ceasefire agreement. It is a clear indication of the regime’s intent to disrupt all efforts aimed at finding a political solution in Syria. Russia’s complicity with the Assad regime’s crimes prevents it from being a monitor of the implementation of the truce or a sponsor for the political process.

The Assad regime’s repeated violations of the truce agreement, backed by Russia, are undoubtedly designed to thwart efforts aimed at de-escalating the conflict. These breaches pose a serious threat to the political process in Syria and will further fuel the conflict and terrorism.

The temporary truce the opposition has agreed to is not open-ended. The FSA and rebel groups who signed off on the agreement reserve the right to respond to regime attacks and breaches.