Numerous war crimes, even crimes against humanity, have been committed in the province of Idlib, the last insurgent stronghold in north-western Syria subjected to a regime offensive in late 2019 and early 2020, according to a report released Tuesday by the UN.
Read also: Lebanon fears sanctions against Syria
" Children were bombed in school, parents were bombed in the market, patients were bombed in hospital, and entire families were bombed while fleeing, " said Paulo Pinheiro, president. of the UN Commission of Inquiry into Syria. His report covers the period from November 1 to April 30, and documents 52 attacks based on nearly 300 interviews and photographic and video equipment.
The Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, supported by its Russian ally, relaunched in December 2019 its offensive against Idlib, the last bastion in the hands of rebel and jihadist groups, before a precarious truce sponsored by Russia and Turkey entered into force. effective early March. The offensive left a million displaced and more than 500 civilian dead, according to the UN.
14 bombed schools
" During this military campaign, pro-government forces and groups designated by the UN as terrorists grossly violated the laws of war and the rights of Syrian civilians ," said Paulo Pinheiro, quoted in the report. According to the Pinheiro Commission, between November 1 and April 30, 17 medical facilities, 14 schools, 9 markets and 12 homes were bombed, in the overwhelming majority of cases by pro-government forces and their Russian ally.
Some of these " indiscriminate bombings ", notably on Maaret al-Noomane in the province of Idleb and in Atarib (west of Aleppo) in December and February " could constitute a crime against humanity " according to the report. The Pinheiro Commission is also examining the abuses of the main jihadist group in the region, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), accused of " looting, detention, torture and execution of civilians, including journalists ".
HTS also " indiscriminately bombed densely populated areas, spreading terror among civilians living in government-controlled areas ," the report said. " The women, men and children we interviewed had the choice of being bombed or fleeing further into HTS-controlled areas where human rights are violated and where humanitarian assistance is very limited, " said the official. investigator Karen Koning AbuZayd.