Human Rights Watch accuses Assad and Russia of intentionally targeting civilians in Syria



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The human rights organization Human Rights Watch accused the Bashar al-Assad regime and Russia of intentionally targeting civilians in the Idlib region.

The organization said in a new report that hundreds of people died in the region when schools, hospitals and markets were attacked between April 2019 and March this year.

He added that the repeated bombings appeared to be deliberate, accusing both governments of blatantly ignoring life, and said they could be guilty of “war crimes” in Idlib, the last great opposition stronghold in Syria.

In its report released Thursday, the US-based organization said the bombardment of civilians by the Syrian and Russian armed forces during the recent campaign in the rebel stronghold in northwestern Syria may constitute “crimes against humanity” .

It added that it had investigated dozens of “illegal” air and ground strikes against civilian targets in the vicinity of Idlib city between April 2019 and March 2020, in which hundreds of civilians were killed and more than 1,400,000 people were displaced as Outcome.

Human Rights Watch said its 167-page report, titled “Focusing on Life in Idlib,” used hundreds of images, satellite images and flight control records to examine 46 bombing incidents, a small fraction of the airstrikes and bombings. occurred.

It indicated in the report that the attacks included repeated violations, “which were – as it appears – war crimes, and may constitute crimes against humanity.”

“They have attacked hospitals, schools, markets and residential areas. Not only inadvertently, while trying to attack those they describe as terrorists, but on purpose,” he added, as quoted by the Reuters news agency, according to Kenneth Roth, director organization executive.

The goal of the 11-month military campaign was “to get civilians out and make their lives unviable, in the hope that this will facilitate the mission of the Russian and Syrian armed forces,” according to Roth.

Moscow and Damascus deny accusations of indiscriminate bombing of civilians in an area where three million people have found refuge during the almost ten years of conflict. The two allies say they only target militants who have influence in the region.

Human Rights Watch said it had not received any response to the summary of its findings and questions addressed to the governments of Syria and Russia.

The campaign ended after a ceasefire agreement last March between Turkey and Russia, which support opposing parties to the conflict.

The Human Rights Watch report mentioned the names of 10 senior Russian and Syrian officials, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and their top military commanders, who were the “responsible leadership” at the time and should assume The responsability.

Roth added “by following up and making sure that the people who oversaw these war crimes do not go unpunished, and that there are consequences for continuing this strategy in the war.”

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