White Helmets Statement on the Assad Regime’s Escalation of Attacks on Civilians in Northwestern Syria
Statement:
In a grave escalation, the Assad regime launched intense and systematic artillery and missile attacks on northwestern Syria on Thursday, October 5th. The attacks targeted marketplaces, residential areas, four schools, a mosque, a Syrian Civil Defense center, as well as an electricity facility and a fuel station resulting in the tragic loss of 13 civilians, including 3 women and 2 children, and injury of 62 others, including 18 children and 13 women.
The military attacks by the Assad regime have notably escalated over the past three days, targeting civilians and vital facilities across several regions in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib. The aim is to impose a state of instability while the population continues to struggle to cope with the devastating aftermath of the earthquake after 12 years of war and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
These terrorist attacks demonstrate a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, which explicitly prohibits the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure. Systematically targeting markets, residential areas, schools, public facilities, and rescue teams demonstrates a complete disregard for human life and a deliberate intent to kill civilians while undermining their stability and livelihoods.
The White Helmets urgently call on the international community to find a solution that puts an end to the Assad regime's relentless onslaught on the civilian population, given the regime's blatant disregard for any framework aimed at fostering a political resolution and any commitment to peace. We stress the need to hold the regime accountable for these heinous attacks and grave violations, and to take decisive measures to put an end to these ongoing assaults on innocent lives and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Ensuring the safety of civilians in Syria and upholding the fundamental principles of human rights and humanitarianism are the very minimum requirements after 12 years of devastating war, at a time when a political solution remains elusive in light of an international community governed by political balances and interests.
