President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Salem al-Meslet, sent identical letters to the G7 states, the Syria Core Group, the European Union, the Arab League, Turkey, Qatar and Kuwait on the blockade that the Assad regime has imposed on Dara’a and its attempts to storm the city since last Tuesday.
“We would like to inform you of the escalation of hostilities of the Assad regime, Russia and Iran on the city of Dara’a. After a month of siege, the people agreed to the conditions of Russia and the regime. However the regime reneged on the agreement and targeted the city’s neighborhoods, leaving two people killed and dozens wounded, as well as causing the displacement of a large number of families,” the letter said.
Al-Meslet warned that the Assad regime and its backers would commit massacres and reprisals if they stormed Dara’a, which could have catastrophic consequences on the humanitarian situation, the political process, and peace in Syria and the region.
He also called for condemning the hostile actions of Russia, the regime, and Iran on Daraa, Jabal al-Zawiya and other areas. He also called for announcing effective measures that oblige the regime and its supporters to comply with international resolutions, ensure the protection of civilians in Syria, and ensure that the necessary accountability measures are taken to prevent the impunity of those involved.
Moreover, al-Meslet called for the UN to assume its responsibilities of protecting the population from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
Finally, he called for supporting the efforts of the political process towards achieving a political transition and not to allow the regime to foil it again, given that a comprehensive solution to the humanitarian crisis in Syria requires reaching a political solution with the full implementation of the Geneva Communique and Security Council resolutions, especially 2118 (2013) and 2254 (2015) and the General Assembly resolutions, including 67/262. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
