On November 26, 2024, Syrian regime artillery forces fired three shells at Ariha city in southern rural Idlib governorate. One of the shells struck al-Nawwi Institute for Religious and Arabic Sciences, killing three students – Abdul Qader Suleiman, Tayyim Othman, and Saeed Sarjawi – while 14 civilians, mostly children, were injured. The Institute’s building was also moderately damaged, and its interior furnishing and contents were heavily damaged. In addition, the building and interior furnishing of the Grand Mosque, located next to the Institute, was moderately damaged. The area targeted is under the control of armed opposition factions and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that through this attack, Syrian regime forces have again unequivocally violated UN 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 members. Such attacks aim solely to spread fear and panic among civilians, to drive them from their lands and homes, and to forcibly displace them. An estimated 6.5 million people are currently internally displaced in Syria.
The international community must put pressure on the Syrian regime and its allies to 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 be ensured a safe and stable return to their homes.
