Three children, named as Banan, Ibrahim and Saed Subhi al Asi, were killed, along with their father Subhi al Asi and mother Suad al Asi, on July 3, 2021, when artillery forces which we believed were Russian used a shell (equipped with a Krasnopol laser guidance system) to target their home in Ebleen village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, with the primary parties suspected of responsibility for the attack being the Russian and Syrian regime forces, and the shelling emanating from an area controlled by them. The investigation process is still underway to identify the party responsible for the shelling.
SNHR notes that Subhi al Asi worked as an officer at the Ebleen Health care center and a volunteer with the Banafsaj Relief organization.
SNHR notes that this shelling 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, Russian forces have, without doubt, committed another violation of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which prohibit 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 currently standing at 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.
Exclusive photo for SNHR shows the funeral prayers for the victims who were killed in Russian forces’ shelling of the village.
Photo of the victim Subhi al Asi.
Exclusive photo for SNHR shows the remnants of a shell fired at the village by Russian forces.
