Abdul Basit Ahmad Abdul Khaleq, from al-Atareb city in the western suburbs of Aleppo governorate, a Civil Defense volunteer who worked at the White Helmets’ al-Atareb Center, was killed on July 11, 2023, in an attack by Syrian regime artillery forces who fired an anti-armor rocket at the rescue car, which is affiliated with the Syrian Civil Defense’s al-Aatreb Center, on the road between al-Atareb city and Kafr Nouran town in the western suburbs of Aleppo, while he was on his way to examine a site targeted in earlier regime artillery bombardment. The area is under the joint control of armed opposition factions and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that, through this and similar attacks, Syrian regime forces have unequivocally violated Security Council resolutions 2139 & 2254, both of which categorically prohibit indiscriminate attacks, as well as violating the rules of international humanitarian law on distinguishing between civilians and fighters. Such attacks aim solely to spread fear and panic among civilians, and to drive them from their lands and homes, and forcibly displace them. It is estimated that 6.5 million people are currently internally displaced in Syria.
The international community must put pressure on the Syrian regime and its allies to compensate the displaced victims, repair the damaged homes and civilian facilities, and support a process of political transition. Pressure should be applied on all parties to compel them to launch such a transition within a period of no more than six months, so that millions of displaced people can safely and stably return to their homes.
