Assad Regime’s Unabated Use of Barrel Bombs on Residential Areas

Press Statement

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

January 29, 2014

The Syrian Coalition condemns in the strongest possible terms the Assad regime’s continued abhorrent use of barrel bombs against innocent civilians in residential areas across Syria. At least 15 civilians died in the al-Mayassar neighborhood, Aleppo, yesterday, and 15 in the al-Ma’ady neighborhood, Aleppo today, when the regime’s helicopters dropped barrel bombs on the two neighborhoods, as reported by activists in the area.

Furthermore, just this morning, reports coming out of the suburbs of Damascus confirmed that Assad’s air force dropped more than 20 barrel bombs on the city of Daraya, wounding scores of civilians and razing entire buildings to the ground.

The Syrian Coalition also condemns the regime’s attempts to politicize the humanitarian situation in Syria. The Assad regime continues to block aid to besieged areas in Syria, including Old Homs. It insists on following a policy of “starvation until submission” against the civilian population.

If continued unchallenged, the regime’s latest political maneuvers- which until now are no more than a publicity gimmick- will impede the progress of real solutions that could bring about the change Syrians want to achieve; the change they have paid with their lives to see.

We ask for Mercy for our martyrs, health for our wounded, and freedom for our detainees.

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