The Syrian Coalition condemned the attacks on civilians by US-backed militias of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as well as the Russian-backed regime forces and Iranian militias.
Deir Ezzor provincial council called on the United Nations, the Secretariat of the UN Human Rights Council, and the leadership of the International anti-ISIS Coalition to shoulder their legal and moral responsibilities to protect civilians as it stressed the need to take adequate precaution to protect and spare civilians.
Activists in rural Deir Ezzor said that 10 civilians were killed and dozens more injured, including children, as a result of airstrikes by the international coalition on the town of Buqras Fokani the early morning hours of Monday. Similar attacks targeted the town of Albu Leil, injuring dozens and destroying more than 20 houses.
Activists confirmed that airstrikes on ISIS-held towns and villages in rural Deir Ezzor have claimed the lives of at least 150 civilians over the past week. The international anti-ISIS coalition has launched a bombing campaign against the ISIS extremist group since mid-2014.
In a statement released on Sunday, the council said that the attacks on the province and indiscriminate bombardment of civilian areas have led to the displacement of more than 120,000 people in recent weeks, the majority of whom were elderly, children and women.
The council pointed out that the displaced people suffer dire humanitarian conditions in the areas controlled by the militias of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and are in urgent need for humanitarian assistance. It noted that many of the displaced persons are subject to “abuses, extortion and harassment at checkpoints that are manned by PYD militias, which restrict their ability to reach the safe areas.”
The council urged the United Nations to expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people who fled the fighting in Deir Ezzor in accordance with UNSC resolution 2165. It also underscored the need to document the victims of the indiscriminate bombardment to ensure reparations for the victims. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
