A woman, named as Hafizah Mar’i al Rebdawi, was killed while six other civilians were injured when Syrian regime forces – stationed in al Banorama children’s playground in Daraa city – used missile launchers to shell Tafas city in the western suburbs of Daraa governorate on August 26, 2021,
Through this action, Syrian regime forces have, without doubt, committed another violation of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which prohibit any further indiscriminate attacks, as well as violating the rules of international humanitarian law which stress the distinction between civilians and combatants. Attacks of this nature spread terror and panic among civilians, leading them to flee their lands and homes in an attempt to reach safety, and forcibly displacing them, with the number of internally displaced persons within Syria currently standing at approximately 6.5 million Syrian citizens in total. The international community should put pressure on the Syrian regime and its allies to force them to compensate the displaced victims, rehabilitate homes and vital centers, support the process of political transition, and press all parties to pursue implementation of political transition according to a strict timetable which must not exceed six months, thus enabling millions of IDPs to return homes.
* According to information we received at the time, we published a news report stating that two women were killed in the Syrian regime shelling of Tafas city in west Daraa governorate on August 26. Following subsequent investigation, we have confirmed that only one woman was killed in the shelling. We accordingly edited the news as of August 28, 2021.
