The FSA said that its ongoing operations in Aleppo are aimed at liberating the city and defending its people against the barbaric onslaught by the Assad regime and its allies. It denied allegations that its fighters hit civilian neighborhoods in the regime-held western parts of Aleppo with missiles or artillery.
In a press conference on Wednesday, the FSA denounced remarks made by the UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura who accused FSA and rebel fighters of shelling residential areas in western Aleppo. The FSA described these allegations as baseless and unsubstantiated.
Major Yasser Abdul Rahim, commander of the FSA’s Fateh Aleppo Operations Room, called upon the United Nations to investigate the use of chlorine gas by regime forces in Aleppo. He confirmed they have credible evidence proving the responsibility of regime forces in this attack as only the Assad regime and its allies possess warplanes and helicopters needed to carry out such an attack.
The FSA legal adviser Osama Abu Zeid accused the United Nations of favoring the Assad regime, stressing that the continued silence on Assad’s massacres and war crimes encourages him to commit more crimes against the Syrian people.
Abu Zaid said that De Mistura has failed to accomplish his tasks and is seeking to cover up his failure by making haphazard accusations against the armed opposition.
President of the Syrian Coalition Anas Abdah also categorically denied allegations that the Free Syrian Army and rebel fighters targeted civilians in the regime-held western parts of Aleppo during a meeting with the UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura in Geneva on Wednesday.
In a meeting with De Mistura, President Abdah said the FSA and rebel fighters are only targeting regime forces and the Iraqi Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization militias, emphasizing that the FSA groups are firmly committed to the safety and security of civilians everywhere in Syria.
President Abdah also denied allegations that the FSA and rebel groups have bombed schools, calling for an investigation into the bombing of vital civilian facilities such as schools and public markets. He stressed the need for the United Nations to take firm positions based on the results of those investigations. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
