The Syrian Coalition mourns the death of Zahran Aloush, commander of Jaish al-Islam, and a group of rebel leaders who were killed in Russian airstrikes on eastern Ghouta on Friday.
The Syrian Coalition stresses this heinous crime makes clear the goals of the Russian aggression on Syria, which is to prop up the Assad regime and annihilate mainstream armed opposition. Alloush’s assassination comes days after the Riyadh opposition conference during which the Syrian opposition, including the rebel factions, reached a consensus on commitment to a political solution. Jaish al-Islam is among the signatories to the agreement reached in the Riyadh conference.
The Syrian Coalition underlines that Russia’s aggression on Syria only serves to boost terrorism and foster ISIS as it is designed to weaken the FSA groups which have long set upon countering extremism. While Russia’s actions in Syria are also aimed at undermining the UN efforts to revive the political process, this latest crime points to a dangerous escalation by Russia which is predicted to carry out large scale assassinations against rebel leaders. These crimes clearly contradict Russia’s approval to the UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
The Syrian Coalition calls upon the international community and the UN Security Council to condemn this crime as it violates UN Security Council resolution 2254 and undermines the credibility of the signatory states.
It also calls on the Supreme negotiations Committee to hold and emergency meeting in order to discuss this crime and its implications as well as to take the necessary measures towards Russia’s escalating crimes against Syrian civilians.
The Syrian Coalition emphasizes that the invaders’ crimes will not succeed in defeating the revolution of a people who continue to struggle for their freedom. While the revolution will continue unabated until it achieves its goals, those who betrayed our people will realize that tyranny and occupation will come to an end. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
