Press release
Syrian Coalition
Media Department
October 24, 2017
Over the past few hours, a series of brutal massacres claiming the lives of scores of civilians has been committed by forces of the Russian occupation, the Assad regime, the Iranian terrorist militias, and the ISIS extremist group. Airstrikes by the Assad regime on Deir Ezzor city have killed 30 people and wounded dozens more, including many women and children. Previous airstrikes by the Russian occupation warplanes killed four children in the district of Al-Ardi in Deir Ezzor.
Meanwhile, residents of the town of Al-Qaryetein in eastern rural Homs, which fell to ISIS in early October, revealed that the extremist group committed a horrific massacre before they withdrew from the town a few days ago. Residents said that ISIS executed around 128 civilians in a crime for which the Assad regime forces and their allied militias bear part of the responsibility having left civilians with no other option but to stay in the ISIS-held areas.
The Coalition condemns all these crimes as it stresses that those responsible will eventually be held accountable. These crimes could not have taken place had it not been for the callous indifference of the international community and its failure to shoulder its responsibilities to maintain security and protect Syrian civilians.
The Coalition reiterates its call on the UN Security Council and UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura to take the necessary measures to protect Syrian civilians; stop these crimes; and bring perpetrators to justice. It also calls for the unification of efforts to combat terrorism, dry up its sources, and hold to account those who planned for the spread of terrorism and helped it thrive.
