On March 14, 2021, forces which we believe were Russian carried out two attacks using two long-range missiles with one of the attacks targeting an area containing a group of fuel burners – rudimentary refineries used in refining operations for crude oil – in Tarhin village in the south of Jarablos city in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo governorate, resulting in huge fires in the area. The other attack targeted an area near the fuel market in al Humran village in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo governorate, resulting in the injury of two civilians and fires in the targeted area.
SNHR notes that the two targeted areas were attacked earlier by the same forces on March 5, 2021 with that attack also resulting in casualties and material damages.
SNHR notes that this Russian bombardment is a breach of 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 force them 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.
Photo shows Civil Defense personnel trying to extinguish fires that broke out in an area of Tarhin fuel burners
