Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
October 6, 2023
Since yesterday, Assad’s forces have mercilessly targeted more than 25 towns and villages in the Aleppo and Idlib countryside, resorting to indiscriminate bombing. This reprehensible assault has claimed the lives of dozens of unarmed civilians and left many wounded, including the tragic loss of five members from a single family. The heinous bombing of a house near the town of Kafr Nouran in the western countryside of Aleppo marks yet another addition to a long list of war crimes committed by the Assad regime, demanding an unequivocal international response.
The regime’s persistent targeting of residential areas and innocent civilians, coupled with its association with extremist and terrorist groups—both imported from abroad and locally manufactured—is a matter of utmost concern. These groups have perpetrated criminal and terrorist operations that we vehemently condemn. These attacks have not spared areas under the regime’s control since the outset of the revolution in 2011. They appear to be part of a calculated strategy aimed at sowing fear, discord, and division among the Syrian population—an approach rooted in the “divide to rule” policy—while perpetuating a state of chaos and instability.
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) underscores that the Assad regime’s actions against all Syrians and its relentless commission of crimes are a direct consequence of the international community’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities as outlined in the United Nations Charter. The Security Council has not taken decisive actions against the war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Assad regime, including its use of internationally prohibited chemical weapons. UN Security Council Resolution 2118 (2013) explicitly states that any further use of chemical weapons by the regime would trigger measures under Chapter Seven of the United Nations Charter.
In the strongest terms, the SOC condemns the regime’s crimes and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to ensuring accountability in accordance with international law, UN conventions, and treaties. We also express our resolute condemnation of any military or terrorist acts targeting children and defenseless civilians, whether inside or outside Syria, regardless of the perpetrators.
We call upon the UN Security Council and the international community to condemn the regime’s crimes unequivocally. We implore them to take serious and responsible action to halt these atrocities, break the current political deadlock, and support the political transition as mandated by UN resolutions, most notably UN Security Council Resolutions 2254 (2015) and 2118 (2013). This is crucial for achieving a comprehensive political solution and ushering in a Syria marked by justice, equality, and freedom.
Our vision is a Syria characterized by equal citizenship, governed by a democratic system rooted in the rule of law, preserving the dignity of all Syrian men and women, safeguarding their freedoms, and ensuring their right to a dignified life.
