Syrian civil organizations operating in the town of Ma’aret al-Nu’man called on the international community, the United Nations and the Security Council to conduct an investigation into the weapons the Russian forces used in the deadly attack on the town on Monday.
A joint statement by the Syrian Women’s Conglomerate and The Future Vision Organization called upon the international community, especially the United Nations and the Security Council, to shoulder their responsibilities with regards to the daily crimes the Assad regime and Russian forces are committing in Idlib province.
The statement stressed that one of the primary tasks of the UN Security Council is to maintain international peace and security, adding that the crimes taking place against civilians in Idlib threaten international peace and security.
The statement condemned the targeting of civilians and vital civilian centers, especially hospitals, schools and public markets. It also condemned the Russian airstrikes on a popular market in the town of Maaret al-Nu’man killing dozens of civilians, including children and women and civil defense volunteers.
Moreover, the statement said that the double-tap airstrikes aim to kill and maim as many civilians as possible and rescuers as well as destroy the infrastructure. The NGOs believed that internationally prohibited weapons were used in the attack on Ma’aret al-Nu’man in view of the massive destruction they caused.
The statement called for the ratcheting up of pressure on the Assad regime and Russia to stop their ferocious onslaught against civilians. They also called for reinvigorating the political process to find a lasting solution in accordance with the Geneva Communique of 2012 and the UN Security Council resolution 2254 and for holding perpetrators of war crimes to account.
The Monday attack on Ma’aret al-Nu’man sparked international outrage. The United States condemned the attack, while the European Union expressed its deep concern over the Assad regime and Russian bombing campaign on Idlib province and described the attack on Ma’aret al-Nu’mana as the bloodiest so far.
The Assad regime and Russian forces have unleashed a brutal bombing campaign in the ‘de-escalation zone’ in northwestern Syria since April 26. The Russian jets on Monday carried out a brutal massacre Ma’arat al-Nu’man claiming the lives of 35 civilians and injuring dozens more. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)