17 Civilians Killed including Three Children and Seven Women
Photo By: AMER ALMOHIBANY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
SNHR has released a report entitled: “The Syrian Regime Perpetrates a Massacre in Hamouriya Town Two Days After Geneva Talks’ Fifth Round Start”. The report documents a massacre in Hamouriya town, in Damascus suburbs, that took place on Saturday, March 25, 2017.
The report draws upon accounts from city residents, eyewitnesses, and survivors, where we included three of those. Also, the report includes verified pictures and videos that show the great destruction that resulted from the bombardment, and other pictures of children victims.
According to the report, the targeted areas were civilian areas, where no military centers or weapon warehouses for armed opposition factions or extremist Islamic groups were found before or during the attack.
The report says that at approximately 09:40, fixed-wing Syrian regime forces warplanes fired four missiles at least that targeted the center of al Rawda Street at the main market in the middle of Hamouriya town, which resulted in the killing of 17 civilians including three children and seven women (adult female), and injured no less than 30 others. Additionally, al Rawda Mosque was heavily damaged, and tens of shops were destroyed as well as a number of cars.
The report stresses that the Syrian regime has, beyond any doubt, violated Security Council Resolutions 2139 and 2254 which both states that indiscriminate attacks must be halted. Also, the regime violated Article 8 of Rome Statute through the crime of willful killing, which constitutes war crimes.
The report notes that the bombardment mentioned in this report has targeted armless civilians. Therefore, Syrian forces have violated the rules of the international human rights law which guarantee the right to life. Additionally, these violations were perpetrated in a non-international armed conflict which amount to a war crime where all elements were fulfilled.
The report calls on the Security Council to additional steps as no pledges to cease the indiscriminate bombardment operations have been made after Security Council Resolution 2139 has been adopted. All the parties to the conflict must respect these steps, and adhere to the rules of the international humanitarian law. Also, the report emphasizes the importance of supporting the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 248/71, adopted on December 21, 2016.
The report calls for referring the Syrian case to the International Criminal Court and hold all those who were involved accountable, and for the implementation of the norm of Responsibility to Protect in order to save the Syrians’ lives, culture, and arts from being destroyed, looted, and ruined. Also, the sanctions have to expanded to include all the pillars of the Syrian and Iranian regimes who are directly involved in committing crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Syrian people.