On August 26, 2023, Syrian regime artillery forces fired multiple shells at Jisr al-Shoghour city in western rural Idlib governorate. One of the shells landed in the schoolyard of Abdul Rahman al-Nassir School. While no casualties were documented, the shell partially destroyed the schoolyard. Another shell landed about 100 meters from another school, the Rabia al-Udawwya School, with no damages recorded to it.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that the Abdul Rahman al-Nassir School is currently operational, although the bombing took place before the children arrived at the school.
The area is under the joint control of armed opposition factions and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Through this and similar attacks, Syrian regime forces have 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 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 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.
