The Justice for Life rights group issued a report about a crime the Assad regime’s air force committed in the town of Mayadin in rural Deir Ezzor back in 2015 when Assad’s jets bombed a public market in the town, killing and wounding dozens.
In a report ‘A Voice I Cannot Forget,’ the NGO relied on online interviews with eyewitnesses, survivors, and relatives of the victims. The report indicated that all the interviewees confirmed that the Assad regime’s warplanes targeted densely populated civilian areas that were void of any military targets.
Justice for Life pointed out that the attack resulted in heavy civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian homes and shops in violation of rules 1 and 9 of the International Committee of The Red Cross’s study on Customary International Humanitarian Law.
“Two jets fired 12 missiles at once. We did not notice the presence of reconnaissance planes nor did we hear the sound of the warplanes. We just saw them as they were flying. At least 30 people were killed. I will never forget the horrible scene I saw that day,” one of the interviewees told the NGO.
Another survivor gave horrific, graphic account of the incident. He said: “Many bodies were strewn in the street. After I realized that my brother and son were not hurt, I went to the place where the missiles struck. I was literally walking on the bodies lying on the ground. A little girl pleadingly asked me to look for her father. I saw the body of the wife of a friend of mine and bodies that were burnt beyond recognition.”
The rights group called for the launch of an independent, careful investigation into the attack and the information presented in the report which provided compelling evidence of violations of international humanitarian law. It also called bringing those suspected of crimes to trial in accordance with international standards. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
