Syrian regime forces’ artillery units fired several shells at al Herak city in the eastern suburbs of Daraa governorate, on the evening of January 22, 2022. One of the shells hit a home in the city, wounding three civilians, two of them women, as well as partially damaging the house.
SNHR notes that the Syrian regime forces’ shelling of the city followed a shootout between armed individuals who we have so far been unable to identify and Syrian regime forces at checkpoints east of Daraa governorate.
Through this bombardment, Syrian regime forces have unquestionably violated UN Security Council Resolutions 2139 and 2254 which prohibit arbitrary attacks, as well as willfully disregarding international humanitarian law concerning the distinction between civilians and combatants. Such actions also contribute to spreading further fear amongst civilians, uprooting them from their homes and lands and forcing them into displacement, with the number of IDPs in Syria now reaching around 6.5 million Syrian citizens. The international community must pressure the Syrian regime and its allies to compensate the displaced victims and rebuild the homes and vital facilities, and must support the political transition process and pressure the parties to implement the political transition within a period of time not exceeding six months so that millions of displaced persons can return safely and securely to their homes and have stability.
