The Killing of 105 individuals and not less than 559 breaches since the ceasefire started
SNHR issued its 15th report that documented the violations of the truce which started on Saturday, February 27. SNHR recorded 559 breaches since the beginning of the truce which started on 27 February until 12 March.
The report included the distribution of breaches. There were 351 breaches through military attacks which were detailed as follows: 313 breaches by government forces, 31 breaches by alleged Russian forces, 3 breaches by Kurdish self-management forces and 4 breaches by armed opposition groups.
The report documented 206 breaches through arrests were detailed as follows: 169 breaches by government forces and 37 breaches by Kurdish self-management forces.
The breaches through military attacks caused the death of 38 armed members and 24 civilians including 6 children and 4 women at the hand of government forces. While alleged Russian forces killed 3 members of armed opposition groups and 28 civilians including 6 children and 6 women. Kurdish self-management forces killed 2 civilians, and armed opposition groups killed 10 civilians including 3 children and 3 women.
The report questioned the future of the ceasefire since it is sponsored by Russian and the USA only. 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 several UNSC resolutions some of them are under article VII of the United State and it was not held accountable.
Fadel Abdul Ghany, head of SNHR, stated that: “The international community, represented by the UNSC, knows exactly what it should do to end the Syrian disaster, however, it resorts to unproductive solutions. The solution is in real contribution that lead a political transition that would transform the ruling to a democratic one. We have previously said that all initiatives after Geneva 1 increase the bloodshed and lead to a gap in state administrations. Iranian militias first then ISIL are filling this gap. We are with any agreement or resolution that would end the killing and destruction in Syria.”
The report indicated that concerning the truce’ statement 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 observed the bare minimum of violations according to SNHR methodology and obtain information from two different sources for each incident. The report showed the military attacks by all those bound by the truce (government forces, Russian forces, Kurdish self-management forces, 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 did not include any military attacks in regions under ISIL’s control.
The report did not record any releases cases of women or children by any conflict parties. While many regions are still besieged like the northern suburb of Homs city
The report presented the distribution of the violations through military attacks, according to Syrian governorates as follows: 80 breaches in Damascus suburb, 59 breaches in Hama, 48 breaches in Homs, 40 breaches in each of Idlib, Dara’a and Lattakia, 4 breaches in Kunitra, and two breaches in Damascus by government forces. While the violations by alleged Russian forces distributed as follows: 10 breaches in Hama, 9 breaches in Aleppo, 6 breaches in Idlib, 5 breaches in Lattakia, and one breach in Homs.
The report mentioned that Kurdish self-management forces committed one violation through military attacks in each of Aleppo, Al Raqqa and Al Hasaka. The armed opposition groups committed 3 breaches in Aleppo and one breach in Hama.
The distribution of breaches through arrests was as follows: 43 breaches in Damascus, 41 breaches in Damascus suburb, 16 breaches in each of Homs, Hama and Lattakia, 13 breaches in each of Deir Al Zour and Hama, 10 breaches in Al Hasaka and one breach in Tartous at the hand of government forces. While the breaches through arrests by Kurdish self-management forces distributed as follows: 28 breaches in Al Hasaka, 7 breaches in Aleppo and 2 breaches in Al Raqqa.
The report recorded the prevention of aid convoys to Al Mo’adamyia city in Damascus suburb two times since the beginning of the truce in 27 February.
The report indicated that the violations in 15th day of the truce reached 42 breaches, 32 breaches through military attacks and 11 breaches through arrests.
The report recommended the joint American and Russian committee to investigate those incidents, announce the 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 the agreement, then it should persuade the Russian government to cease its airstrikes and pressure its ally the Syrian government to do so.