The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) expressed its regret over the wildfires sweeping across forests of Latakia, Tartous, Hama and Homs and which laid waste to thousands of hectares of forests and caused an exodus of civilians.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the SOC said that experts and former government employees are adamant that most wildfires that swept the region over the past decades were deliberate and came in the context of looting, theft and corruption in favor of influential individuals, shabiha and mafia leaders who set forests on fire with the aim of acquiring land and build palaces and villas.
Reports indicated that some wildfires erupted as a result of shelling by the Assad regime forces on the Lattakia mountains, the SOC said, adding that the wildfires ravaged large swathes of forests and farmlands in the regions of Slinfah and Masyaf.
“Indeed, Syria will remain at the mercy of the Assad regime’s crimes, corruption and atrocities. The regime will continue to devise more methods of looting, theft and sabotage, not to mention neglect, mismanagement and failure to deal with crises. This reality will not change unless the international community assumes its responsibility with regard to this gangster regime.”
The SOC called upon the international community and international actors to shoulder their responsibilities with regards to the regime’s crimes against the Syrian people, the land of Syria and its future, and the ongoing violations of international laws and UN Security Council resolutions. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
