Germany strongly condemned the Assad regime and its allies’ targeting of civilians, hospitals and medical workers in the ‘de-escalation zone’ in northwestern Syria, stressing the need to stop military attacks on Idlib and its surroundings.
In a statement on Friday, the German Foreign Ministry said that the aerial bombardment by the Assad regime and its allies which have been ongoing since late April targeted German-funded medical facilities and killed many medical workers.
The German statement called on the Assad regime and its allies to stop military attacks on Idlib and its surroundings; respect international law; and ensure protection of civilians.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the ongoing airstrikes impacting civilians, including those on medical facilities and medical workers, in northwest Syria, his spokesman said Thursday.
“Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, must be protected,” said Guterres in a statement released by his spokesman. “Parties to the conflict must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law,” Guterres said, adding that those behind the attacks must be held accountable.
Local sources reported that airstrikes knocked out six medical and services centers on Thursday and Friday.
The targeted centers included healthcare facilities, a civil defense center and a school. The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) on Thursday said that an airstrike hit the hospital in Maaret al-Nu’man while more than 250 people were inside, including patients, medical staff, and 48 infants and newborn babies in the hospital.
The Syrian Coalition called upon the United Nations to condemn the Assad regime attacks against civilians in Idlib, calling for serious action to stop the bombing and ensure the protection of civilians.
The Coalition described the targeting of civilians as a “criminal act” as it stressed the need to activate the principle of accountability and transitional justice as well as to tighten the economic and legal sanctions on the Assad regime. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
