The Killing of 55 individuals and not less than 253 breaches since the ceasefire started
SNHR issued its 7th report that documented the violations of truce which started on February 27. It recorded 37 breaches which included 22 breaches through military attacks by government forces and 9 breaches through arrests by government forces, the total of breaches were 253 breaches since the beginning of the truce in February 27.
The report documented the killing of 5 civilians at the hand of government forces including a girl and two women.
The report questioned the ceasefire and its outcomes since it is sponsored by Russian and the USA. As it is known, Russia cannot take that part since it is a loyal ally to the Syrian regime and one of its supporters. The Syrian regime has violated and breached several UNSC resolutions and was not held accountable.
Fadel Abdul Ghany, head of SNHR, stated: “The international community, represented by the UNSC, knows exactly what it should do to end this circle of violence, however, it resorts to unproductive solutions. They need a political transition that would transform the ruling to a democratic one. They have previously said that after Geneva 1, the bloodshed is not going to end and state administrations will be doomed to failure. ISIL and Iranian militias are filling the space the corrupted Syrian government left. We are with any agreement or resolution that would end the cycle of violence and massacres in Syria.”
The report indicated that the Syrian regime and its Russian accomplice can strike regions under the control of armed opposition in northern of Syria under the pretext of the presence Al Nusra front, even if it is extremely limited, without breaching the ceasefire.
The report documented the bare minimum according to SNHR’s team investigation and documentation methodology depending on two different sources of information for each incidents. The report depicted the military attacks by all those bound by the truce (government forces, Russian forces, Kurdish self-management, and armed opposition groups) in regions under the control of armed opposition and in regions that are controlled by joint forces of Al Nusra front and the armed opposition groups. The report also did not include any military operations in regions under ISIL’s control.
The report did not record any improvement in the detainees’ situation or releases by all main conflict parties.
The report mentioned that the breaches were distributed according to the governorates as follows: 8 breaches in Damascus suburbs, 5 breaches in Daraa, 4 breaches in Hama, 3 breaches in Idlib and 2 breaches in Lattakia.
The breaches through arrests by government forces were distributed as follows: 2 breaches for each of Al Hassaka and Damascus suburbs, a breach in each of Lattakia, Deir Ez-Zour, and Homs. While the breaches through arrests by Kurdish self-management distributed as follows: 4 breaches in Al Hasaka and 2 breaches in Tal Abyad city in Raqqa governorate.
The report recommended the joint American and Russian committee to investigate those incidents, announce its results to the Syrian people and prevent it from happening again.
The report demanded the international community to correlate the ceasefire with political efforts that would pave the way towards a transitional stage that would result in a democratic regime, which will end the suffering of the Syrian people.
The report indicated that if breaches are still being committed, then that fragile ceasefire may fail at any moment. Since USA is a major advocate for this agreement, then it should persuade the Russian government to cease its airstrikes and pressure its ally the Syrian government to do so.