Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition – Syria
Department of Media and Communications
January 15, 2021
The attacks by the Assad regime and its allies on Idlib and the areas covered by the “de-escalation zone” agreement constitute systematic war crimes. The constant aerial and artillery strikes, attempts to advance on the liberated areas, and increased reconnaissance activity are an organized campaign of escalation in order to restore the climate of killing, displacement, and massacres.
The shelling that targeted the town of Ariha in rural Idlib on Thursday killed a man and his wife after more than 10 rockets hit the town, targeting populated areas, including a school and a number of homes.
The international silence about this escalation sends a wrong messages to the Assad regime and its allies. This silence will encourage the regime to commit more crimes as well as violations of existing understandings and agreements, which risks plunging the region into a new round of escalation and mass displacement of civilians.
The Syrian Opposition Coalition calls on the international community to take a firm stance and condemn these crimes and violations which seriously risk threatening the situation on the ground and leading to further escalation.
There is no alternative for effective international action to re-impose the ceasefire agreement and give priority to a political solution according to a specific timetable and in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
