The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said that as many as 132 civilians were killed in attacks by the Assad regime and its Russian ally last May, saying that these attacks amounted to war crimes as the Assad regime violated international law which protects civilians’ right to life.
In a report released on Friday, the Network said that a total of 354 civilians were killed across Syria in May 2018, of which 132 were killed in attacks by the Assad regime forces, including 40 children and 26 women. This has brought to 4,166 the number of civilians who have been killed across Syria since the beginning of 2018, 74 percent of whom were killed in attacks by the Assad forces and his Russian ally.
The monitoring group said that it recorded civilian casualties in all Syrian provinces, adding that it documented the victims by their full names as well as the place and time of their death. The group noted that the figures could be much higher as it was not able to gather information on many attacks on civilian areas. The Assad regime continued to purse a policy of repression and arbitrary detention against civilians as the fate of thousands of forcibly disappeared persons is still unknown.
The Network called for taking further measures as was outlined by UN Security Council resolution 2139 to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court and hold accountable all those responsible for war crimes in Syria, including the Assad regime and its Russian all. It stressed that the Assad regime and its Russian ally violated international humanitarian law.
The report indicated that at least 90 percent of the attacks targeted civilians, which contradicted claims by the Assad regime and its Russian ally of fighting terrorists.
The Syrian Coalition earlier condemned violations by the Assad regime and its ally against civilians, describing them as war crimes and calling on the UN Security Council to refer them to the International Criminal Court. It also stressed that the Assad regime insists on pursuing a bloody military solution and rejects political solutions for fear they will expose its crimes against the Syrian people. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
