A man from Idlib city, named as Ghiath Talla’a, was killed when fixed-wing warplanes, which we believe were Russian, fired missiles at an area between Sarmada city and Bab al Hawa crossing at the Syrian- Turkish border in the northern suburbs of Idlib governorate on March 21. SNHR notes that the targeted area is a vital one with a number of civilian and humanitarian facilities, civilian organizations’ offices and reputable civilian transport companies.
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.
