The General Assembly of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) convened an emergency meeting on Monday to address the escalating aggression by the Assad regime and its allies in Idlib and the Aleppo countryside. The meeting commenced with a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims.
Key participants included the Head of the Syrian Interim Government (SIG), Abdurrahman Mustafa, SIG’s ministers, including Minister of Defense Brigadier General Hassan Hamadeh, and representatives from the Syrian National Army. Also in attendance were Muhammad Hasno, the Executive Director of the Assistance Coordination Unit, Ahmed Yazji, a member of the Civil Defense Board of Directors, Ahmed Al-Husseinat, the head of the political body in Idlib, and other political body members from Idlib.
Hamadeh delivered a briefing on the latest field and military developments, developments on various battlefronts, and the human and material losses resulting from the regime’s hostile military attacks. He noted that the ongoing onslaught by regime forces, with support from its allies, targeted numerous towns and villages in northwestern Syria, including critical facilities such as hospitals, schools, and public markets.
Hasno presented a report on the humanitarian situation, displacement movements, and response efforts in the affected areas, with a focus on mobilizing resources to coordinate relief work. The Syrian Civil Defense provided updates on its activities in response to the resulting humanitarian disaster, including efforts to aid the wounded, support displaced individuals, and extract those trapped beneath the rubble due to the bombings. Both institutions outlined their efforts to establish shelter centers for displaced individuals from the affected regions and discussed measures taken to address the damage caused by these attacks and the corresponding action plan.
SOC’s President Hadi Al-Bahra emphasized during the meeting that SOC is actively working to urge friendly and brotherly countries to convene an emergency session of the UN Security Council. The aim is to address the Assad regime’s brutal bombardment in northern Syria, adopt appropriate decisions and measures for a ceasefire, adhere to prior international agreements, and promote the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 2254 and 2118. Al-Bahra also highlighted ongoing communication with the Turkish government regarding field developments and Ankara’s efforts within the Astana group. Turkey has already issued warnings to halt the hostilities and protect civilian lives.
In a related context, Al-Bahra reached out to the French Foreign Ministry to discuss these matters and related topics, including the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. A SOC delegation will visit Paris on Tuesday to meet with French officials and discuss these issues. Subsequent meetings are planned with friendly countries, including permanent members of the Security Council and other member states, to garner support for SOC’s call to convene an emergency Security Council session and increase United Nations relief support in the affected areas.
President of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Badr Jamous, discussed the Commission’s efforts in regional, Arab, and international diplomacy. These efforts included calls upon the United Nations, the Arab League, and active countries to condemn the military escalation in northwestern Syria and immediately halt attacks on civilians.
SOC called upon the international community to swiftly adopt practical decisions and measures to halt the atrocities against the Syrian people and to support the efforts of the interim government and other Syrian institutions in responding to the humanitarian crisis.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
