Assad’s air force targeting civilians in Douma

Mohammed Qaddah, vice president of the Syrian Coalition, said that the Assad’s barbaric bombardment of the district of Douma in East Ghouta is a grave violation of the international and human rights laws. “Assad’s air force targeted the civilian neighborhoods where there were not any rebel military positions, and almost all the victims are civilians. We call on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and put pressure on the Assad regime to abide by the international laws and also to hold it accountable war crimes committed against the Syrian people.” Mohamed Khair al-Wazir, member of the Syrian Coalition, said that these systematic crimes committed by regime forces against civilians in East Ghouta, the latest in which more than 10 civilians were killed and dozens wounded, come as part of the regime’s attempts to recapture this strategic rebel bastion which poses a serious threat to Damascus, Assad’s seat of power. However, he dozens of airstrikes and missiles which regime forces have been raining on Douma and the rest of East Ghouta’s districts, the gateway to Damascus, will never affect the Syrian people’s resolve to topple the Assad regime and build a state of law, justice and freedom.” Wazir pointed out that East Ghouta has been suffering from a humanitarian catastrophe as a result of lack of food and medical supplies caused by months-long siege by regime forces. This human catastrophe is also caused by the failure of the UN Security Council to force the Assad regime to implement the UN resolutions calling for the introduction of humanitarian aid to the besieged areas.” Commenting on regime forces’ targeting of a funeral procession of a rebel commander in Douma, Al Wazir said that “only in Syria funerals and mourners are targeted by air raids, another example of Assad’s violation of all social, legal and ethical norms.” Ayman, a resident of Douma, said in interview with the Media Office “I got out of my house in order to see what happened to neighbourhood after it was hit by a missile fired by regime forces, but when I get back I found that my house was turned into rubble after one of Assad’s missiles hit it and killed everyone inside.” (Source: Syria Coalition)