On October 23, 2023, Syrian regime force used a rocket launcher to fire multiple rockets, including some containing incendiary substances, targeting several vital facilities in al-Tawwama village in western rural Aleppo governorate. One of the rockets struck al-Tawwama al-Sharqiya School, partially destroying its building and outer perimeter fence as well as damaging its interior furnishing. Other rockets struck a popular market, a dispensary, a camp, and the village’s local council building, causing various degrees of destruction. The area is under the control of armed opposition factions and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Through both indiscriminate and deliberate bombardment, the Syrian regime has violated international humanitarian law, failing to distinguish between civilian and military targets. SNHR has documented the use of incendiary weapons in hundreds of attacks against civilian areas, which caused severe burn injuries, and are a source of threat and terror to residents, especially children. The international community must intervene to protect civilians in Syria and act decisively to put an end to the use of these barbaric incendiary weapons.