Belgium, Germany, and Kuwait on Wednesday requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the Assad regime and its allies’ ongoing onslaught on rural Idlib and Hama. The calls came as the humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating as a result of the intensifying bombardment on populated areas and civilian centers in northwestern Syria.
The public meeting, expected to be held this week, would follow up on a closed session of the council held on Friday during which several countries expressed concern over a potential humanitarian catastrophe from an all-out assault by the regime and its allies in Idlib province.
Britain, Germany and France on Monday called for an end to the military escalation in northwestern Syria, saying they were gravely concerned at recent violence which had led to the death of more than 120 civilians.
The EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Wednesday said that air and ground bombardments by the Assad and Russian forces on the Hama and Idlib provinces were “an unacceptable violation of international law.”
The UN Security Council on Friday held an emergency meeting on Syria at the request of Belgium, Germany, and Kuwait amid growing concerns about the escalation of airstrikes against the province of Idlib.
The Syrian Coalition earlier said that by resorting to the oppression and the brutal military machine against the Idlib and Hama provinces, the Assad regime is seeking to undermine all chances of a political process that is needed to stop the bloodshed and save the lives of unarmed civilians.
The brutal onslaught on northern rural Hama and Idlib province has forced some 350,000 civilians out of their homes as well as killed and injured hundreds of civilians and destroyed more than 16 medical centers and 28 schools. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)