The Syrian National Coalition’s political committee held an emergency meeting to discuss the grave developments in Idlib resulting from the Assad regime and Russia’s intensifying onslaught against the province.
Members of the committee worked out a plan to urge the international community and major actors to show a united, firm stance with regards to the protection of civilians and ensuing an end to the systematic bombardment of residential areas, public facilities, and medical centers.
They stressed that the international community’s continued inaction towards the war crimes taking place against civilians in Idlib does not absolve it of the legal tasks entrusted to it. They called for the implementation of international resolutions, most importantly the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN resolution 2254, including articles 12, 13 and 14 on the establishment of a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.
Members of the committee urged members of the UN Security Council to submit draft resolutions confronting Russia as a party to the conflict, which will prevent it from voting in implementation of the provisions of Chapter VI and paragraph 3 of Article 52 and 27 of the United Nations Charter, which stipulates the abstention of parties to conflicts from voting on draft UN resolutions.
The committee stressed that the crimes the Assad regime is committing against civilians with direct Russian support constitute a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law. It said that the targeting of civilians while fleeing the bombardment amounts to genocide as it aims to kill as many civilians as people. (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
