Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
September 30, 2022
On the seventh anniversary of the Russian military aggression on Syria, the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) stresses that Russia has committed hundreds of war crimes against Syrian civilians in the liberated areas. Russia has forced millions of Syrians out of their homes through brutal bombardment, which has killed and injured more than 12,000 civilians. Russia also committed more than 357 massacres in Syria since the start of its aggression, according to human rights groups.
The aggressive intervention that Russia launched in support of the Assad regime is based on the scorched-earth policy. Russia is bombing cities, towns, IDP camps, schools, hospitals and vital infrastructure in the liberated areas with all types of weapons, including internationally prohibited ones. However, the international community did not take any deterrent action, which encouraged Russia to launch another aggression in Ukraine.
Since 2011, the Russian role in Syria has been serving the Assad regime, not the Syrian people. This role has been evident in Russia’s provision of unlimited support to the Assad regime, politically and militarily, in addition to its blackmail of humanitarian aid to obtain political gains in favor of the Assad regime.
The SOC calls on the international community to establish an international mechanism for forcing the Russian forces from Syria and for excluding Russia, along with its ally the Assad regime, from all international forums, and preventing them from using any platform in the United Nations and international organizations. It also calls for holding the Assad regime accountable for the war crimes it is committing with Russian assistance; supporting the political transition in accordance with UN Resolution 2254; and creating a safe environment for the safe return of Syrian refugees.
