A 12-year-old girl, identified as Fidda Ibrahim al-Mheimid from Afis village in eastern rural Idlib governorate, was killed on September 4, 2023, by Syrian regime forces who used a rocket launcher to target the western outskirts of Sarmin city in eastern rural Idlib governorate. One of the rockets exploded near the tent where Fidda and her family were living, killing her and injuring her sister Nada. The tent was also damaged in the attack.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that Fidda’s family had fled their home in their village the previous day to escape another artillery attack by regime forces, fleeing to the eastern outskirts of Sarmin city where they had been living temporarily in a tent.
The area, which is under the joint control of armed opposition factions and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is located on the dividing lines with Syrian regime forces.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that through this attack, Syrian regime forces have again 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 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.
