Fixed-wing warplanes, which we believe to be Russian, fired missiles near al Arshani Water Station located in northwest Idlib city on January 2, 2022, partially damaging the station’s structure and its perimeter fence, in addition to severely damaging the main pipeline used for pumping, and other essential equipment. The bombing also injured one of the employees at the water station.
SNHR notes that Arshani Water Station, a substation that provides water to Idlib city, is supported by the humanitarian organization GOAL.
SNHR can confirm that the water station is located within a residential area free of any military presence and equipment.
Through this action, Russian regime 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 refugees and IDPs to return homes.
