Press Release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
August 21, 2024
Today marks the anniversary of the death of more than 1,144 people and the injury of 5,935 others in the chemical weapons attack committed by the Assad regime against civilians in eastern Ghouta, Damascus. This date also coincides with the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, established in 2017.
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) reaffirms that the crimes of the Assad regime will not be subject to a statute of limitations, and that the Syrian people remain steadfast in their struggle for freedom. They will not be deterred by the international community’s inaction towards these crimes against humanity and the thousands of war crimes committed against Syrian civilians since 2011. The international community has failed to enforce its resolutions and commitments, particularly UN Resolution 2118 (2013), which mandates action against the Assad regime under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter after it used chemical weapons 184 times since the adoption of the Chemical Weapons Convention in September 2013.
The victims and their families feel a deep sense of injustice and frustration due to the international community’s failure to achieve justice. The horrific crime is well-documented, and neutral reports have proven the Assad regime’s responsibility for the massacre in eastern Ghouta, Damascus, among others. Yet, the international community remains incapable of holding the perpetrators accountable and implementing a political solution in Syria in accordance with UN Resolution 2254 (2015).
The SOC stresses that Syria cannot recover or achieve stability as long as the Assad regime, which clings to power at the cost of Syrian lives, remains in place. Syria’s recovery and reconstruction can only be achieved by fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people, who continue to fight for a democratic state founded on freedom, justice, law, and respect for human rights.
