Forces which we believe to be Russian and stationed at the Hmeimin Russian Military base in Latakia governorate fired three long-range missiles at al Afyoul market in al Dabes village in the south of Jarablous city in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo governorate on October 23, 2020, where fuel tankers were present, killing a civilian named as Muhammad Qablawi, as well as injuring ten other civilians. The bombardment also resulted in massive fires in the market which caused severe damage.
SNHR notes that through this bombardment, Russian forces have breached the ceasefire agreement reached following consultations between the Turkish and Russian presidents, which came into effect on March 6, 2020.
Through this action, the Russian forces have, 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 home.
