The Arab League on Monday condemned the “practices” of the Assad regime and its allies in Aleppo.
At the end of an emergency meeting held at the foreign ministers’ level to discuss the situation in Aleppo, 20 league member-states signed on to a final communiqué that denounced “the practices of the Syrian regime, its allies, terrorist organizations, and all those who caused suffering to the Syrian people in Aleppo. “
Member-states also stressed their commitment to maintaining Syria’s sovereignty and unity, calling for a “political solution” to the conflict based on the participation of all Syrian parties involved.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit held the Assad regime responsible for “the brutal military operations and severe violations committed in Aleppo against its people.” He also called for a ceasefire in Syria, stressing the need to protect Syrian civilians.
Monday’s session was held after calls from Kuwait for a league meeting to discuss the situation in Aleppo in light of the continued crimes by the Assad regime and allied foreign terrorist groups against civilians after recently entering the city’s opposition-held eastern districts.
“We condemn the crimes against civilians in Aleppo which are committed under the watchful eye of the world,” Abul Gheit said.
Abul Gheit criticized the international community inaction in the face of an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy in Syria. “The Arab League rejects the silence of the international community towards the unprecedented destruction in Syria,” he said.
Abul Gheit expressed concerns over the negative long-term impact of the ongoing evacuation of civilians from several areas in Syria as it represents a deliberate attempt to change the demography of Syrian cities. In this regard, Abul Gheit underlined the need for guarantees for the right of evacuees to return to their cities and homes after the end of the conflict.
For his part, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in all parts of Syria. He called for the adoption of a unified position by the Arab League and for taking serious action to force the Assad regime to stop all attacks against civilians and to lift the blockades on all besieged areas across Syria.
Bin Abdul Rahman described actions by the Assad regime and its allies in Aleppo as a massacre and a crime against humanity that will only lead to more violence.
Similarly, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir held the Assad regime fully responsible for the tragedy unfolding in Aleppo as it unleashed its army to slaughter the people and brought in terrorist organizations to Syria, including the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Jubeir cautioned that killings, displacement, and oppression will continue in Syria unless real pressure is exerted on the Assad regime to stop its atrocities against the Syrian people. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Office + Agencies)
