Syrian regime forces’ artillery fired shells on Ariha city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate in the evening of October 30. One of shells fell on the yard of Zakariya Saedou School of the city, partially destroying the school’s yard and damaging its structure while other shell fell near Tishreen al Awal School which is near al Dalla Dawwar area in the city, destroying the fence of the school. SNHR confirms that the two school are located within a residential area and free of any military presence or equipment.
SNHR notes that this bombardment is a breach of the ceasefire agreement reached following consultations between the Turkish and Russian presidents, which came into effect on March 6, 2020.
Through this action, the Syrian forces have, without doubt, committed another violation of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which prohibited 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 now reaching approximately 6.5 million Syrian citizens in total. The international community should put pressure on the Syrian regime and its allies 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.
