An attack by Syrian regime forces on July 14, 2020, damaged the main water tank supplying residents of the city of Ariya in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate. The regime forces, stationed in Saraqeb city in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, used a missile launcher to target the city’s main water tank, known as Tareeq al Hajj tank, resulting in casualties and destroying the tank’s structure. SNHR can confirm that the center is located within a residential area and is free of any military equipment or presence.
Through this action, the Syrian regime has, without doubt, committed another violation of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which prohibited any further indiscriminate attacks, as well as violating the rules of international humanitarian law which stress the distinction between civilians and combatants. Attacks of this nature spread terror and panic among civilians, leading them to flee their lands and homes in an attempt to reach safety and forcibly displacing them, with the number of internally displaced persons within Syria now reaching approximately 6.5 million Syrian citizens in total. The international community should put pressure on the Syrian regime and its allies to compensate the displaced victims, rehabilitate homes and vital centers, support the process of political transition and press all parties to pursue implementation of political transition according to a strict timetable which must not exceed six months, thus enabling millions of IDPs to return homes.
