Regime-controlled areas in November 2022 | 160 fata*lities in acts of violence…dramatic escalation of assa*ssinations and infightings in Homs and Rif Dimashq…alarming living crises threatening of new humanitarian catastrophes

Regime-controlled areas experienced scores of dramatic developments in November 2022, including an alarming escalation of violence, worsening living conditions, tightening security grip and ongoing arbitrary arrests.

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has monitored and tracked all key developments in regime-controlled areas in the past month, which can be summarised in the following main points:

 

 

Acts of violence leave many casualties

 

In November 2022, regime-controlled areas saw an alarming escalation of acts of violence that left many casualties, where SOHR documented the death of 160 people across areas controlled by the Syrian regime and affiliated militias; the deaths are as follows:

 

 

Civilian fatalities

 

65 civilians, including 13 children and three women. Here are further details of the circumstances of these deaths

 

• 24 civilians, including a woman and four children, were killed in incidents of security chaos in Daraa.

 

• 18 people, including two women and five children, were murdered.

 

• 12 civilians died under torture in regime’s prisons.

 

• Six civilians, including three children, were killed by explosions of old ordnance.

 

• Four civilians, including a child, were killed in indiscriminate gunfire during infightings between combatants and militiamen.

 

• A civilian was killed by an IED explosion in Al-Quneitra.

 

Non-civilian fatalities

 

-40 military personnel and collaborators with regime security services:

 

• 14 were killed by ISIS.

 

• Seven were killed in Israeli attacks.

 

• Eight were killed in incidents of security disorder in Daraa.

 

• Four were killed in the collapse of a building, while they were looting its contents in Rif Dimashq.

 

• Seven were shot dead by gunmen.

 

-Nine gunmen, some collaborated with the 4^th Division and Lebanese Hezbollah:

 

• Four were killed in infighting in Homs countryside.

 

• Five were killed in Al-Suwaidaa countryside, near the Syria-Jordan border.

 

-18 Iranian-backed Syrian and non-Syrian militiamen:

 

• 14 were killed in strikes by unidentified aircraft in Deir Ezzor.

 

• Two were killed by ISIS in the Syrian desert.

 

• Two were assassinated by an IED explosion in the south of Damascus.

 

-20 ISIS members:

 

• Three were killed by Russian airstrikes in the Syrian desert.

 

• 17 were killed in clashes in Daraa.

 

-Eight ex-fighters of opposition factions were killed in incidents of security disorder in Daraa.

 

-An unidentified person was killed in an incident of security disorder in Daraa.

 

 

 

The “cradle of the Syrian Revolution” experiences anti-ISIS operations with escalating security chaos

 

Daraa province witnessed worrying escalating rate of security chaos and attacks in November, where SOHR has documented 32 attacks throughout Daraa. These attacks left 28 people dead; they are as follows:

 

• 18 civilians, including a woman and two children.

 

• Seven regime military personnel, “collaborators” with security services and members with settled-status working for regime services and backed militias.

 

• Two former fighters who did not join any military formation, after striking reconciliation deals.

 

• One unidentified person.

 

In the same context, clashes escalated dramatically in Daraa city between military formations and local factions on one hand, and ISIS members on the other, and they were concentrated in Al-Hamadayn and Tariq Al-Sadd neighbourhoods.

 

Between November 1 and December 1, SOHR activists have documented 30 fatalities due to those clashes; they are as follows:

 

• Six civilians, including two children, a media activist and an elderly man.

 

• 17 ISIS member and commanders.

 

• Six members of local factions, including a commander.

 

• A member of the 8^th

 

Dozens of families left Tariq Al-Sadd neighbourhood and Daraa camp to areas far from the confrontations, after local factions in Daraa Al-Balad announced a ceasefire, on November 2, in Tariq Al-Sadd neighbourhood and Daraa camp and called on other trapped and stranded families to get out of the besieged neighbourhoods in the area. Meanwhile, Moayad Harfoush’s group stated its commitment to a ceasefire, so the civilians can leave safely the area. Under the humanitarian situation, the Red Crescent Organisation near Saraya building did not provide support to families exiting from the besieged neighbourhoods, nor did they prepare a safe place for these families.

 

While on November 6, a mass demonstration took place in Daraa Al-Balad, where protesters demanded the end of the fighting and the expulsion of the Fifth Corps military formations and auxiliary forces from Daraa. The demonstration set off from Al-Omari mosque, hundreds of civilians and headed towards Al-Hamadin.

 

 

Crime rate is on the rise

 

Also, in November 2022, regime-held areas have seen an alarming escalation of crime rates, in light of the failure of regime security services of the Syrian regime to put an end to the chaos and rampant security chaos that prevail across Syrian provinces which are under the control of regime forces.

 

These crimes were committed with various motives and reasons, most notably “theft, revenge, or honour” and other reasons.

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has documented 15 murders that left 18 civilians dead, and they are as follows:

 

• 11 men.

 

• Two women.

 

• Five children.

 

The fatalities are distributed regionally as follows:

 

• Rif Dimashq: Five men.

 

• Tartus: Four civilians: a man, a woman and two children.

 

• Homs: Two men.

 

• Hama: Two civilians: a man and a child.

 

• Daraa: A child.

 

• Deir Ezzor: A woman.

 

• Damascus: A man.

 

• Latakia: A child.

 

• Aleppo: A man.

 

 

Noticeable escalation of infightings and assassinations in Homs and Rif Dimashq

 

In the past month, SOHR activists documented noticeable escalation of infightings and assassinations in Homs and Rif Dimashq. In this context, five incidents were documented in Homs in November 2022; here are further details:

 

• November 11: SOHR activists reported an explosion and sporadic gunfire in the early hours of Friday morning at the checkpoint of the military intelligence service at the southern entrance of Al-Za’faranah town in the northern countryside of Homs, which was caused by an armed attack by unknown gunmen on the checkpoint. According to SOHR sources, the gunmen, who were positioned near the petrol station opposite the checkpoint, fired an RPG on the room where security check is conducted on the outskirts of the checkpoint, before exchange of gunfire erupted between the two sides, leaving three members of the security forces injured. The injured members were taken to Homs military hospital. SOHR sources also reported that the attack comes as a response to the atrocities practiced by regime soldiers stationed at the checkpoint against the residents and passengers, especially with the beginning of olive harvest when the checkpoint’s members imposed levies on civilians to allow them to pass through the checkpoint.

 

• November 13: A person was killed in clashes between members of a patrol of the regime’s Al-Bayada Police department on one hand and masked young men, who managed to cut the street and burn tires in Al-Seteen St. towards Al-Bayada Square, where clashes and random gunshots were fired with light machine guns between both sides. According to reliable SOHR sources, the clashes erupted after a suspect, who was accused of “theft, looting and drug dealing”, was arrested.

 

• November 21: A man known as Ayoub Ayoub and nicknamed as Abu Khalil was assassinated on the outskirts of Al-Rastan city in the northern countryside of Homs in an armed attack by a group of gunmen. A group known as “Saraya Al-Muqawama” (Resistance Battalion in Homs) claimed responsibility of the assassination of the man for “communicating and spying for members of the military security station in Al-Rastan city, which led to the arresting and oppressing some people from the city,” as the battalion described.

 

• November 28: A prominent drug dealer cooperating with the Lebanese Hezbollah, who was called Muhamed Khalel Al-Dariey and nicknamed “Abo Jenid,” and his companion nicknamed “Abo Sara” were assinated, where unidentified gunmen shot them in the northern neighbourhood of Talbisa city in Homs countryside.

 

• November 30: Clashes erupted in Al-Karama St. inside the northern neighbourhood of Talbisa city in northern Homs countryside between a group of members of a prominent drug dealer, “Muhamed Khalil Al-Dari’y” known as “Abo Jined” who was cooperating with Lebanese Hezbollah and was assassinated two days earlier, and a group of residents of the city of “Al-Osod Family”, who claimed responsibility of the drug dealer’s death in revenge for the death of one of their relatives in September. According to reliable SOHR sources, the clashes led to the death of three people including “Abd Al-Rahman Taha”, who was in the area of clashes and does not belong to any of the fighting sides. Meanwhile, several members of the family of “Abd Al-Rahman Taha” interfered in the clashes on the side of “Al-Osod Family” for revenge against the gunmen of “Abo Jined”, where medium and light machineguns and RPG shells were used in the clashes leaving injuries among civilians inside their houses, while ambulance vehicles of the “Red Crescent” called for ceasefire until the injured people were moved, amid the siege “Talbisah Specialized Hospital” by gunmen of “Abo Jined.”

 

In Damascus and Rif Dimashq, however, the assassination of a senior Iranian commander backed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps topped the events, as SOHR activists reported on November 22 that Colonel Daoud Jafari, a drone expert and air defences, and his companion were assassinated a day earlier when their vehicle was hit by IED near Al-Sayyida Zeianb area, south of Damascus. The dead man was a Syrian leader from Kafraya walfoua. The perpetrator of the assassination remains known. However, it is believed that Israel is blamed for the assassination of the IRGC leader, as Israel continues to confront Iranian influence in Syria.

 

While on November 16, a member of the military security forces was killed, after being stabbed with a sharp tool by another civilian, following a quarrel in the main square in Madaya town in Rif Dimashq. The reasons for the quarrel remains unknown.

 

 

Kidnappings and arbitrary arrests

 

As regime security and intelligence services continue their repression, SOHR activists documented, in November, the arrest of at least 62 civilians, as well as the kidnapping of three others, including a child. Here are further details of the arrests and kidnaps documented in the past month:

 

Arrests:

 

• November 2: A young man from Jarajir region was arrested by the regime military security, days after returning from Lebanon.

 

• November 3: Regime forces arrested 15 people from Mahin and Al-Qaryatain cities in eastern Homs countryside to make them undergo “compulsory service.”

 

• November 3: Members of a “Military Security” checkpoint of the 220th Branch, arrested a young man and asked for his ID, where members of the checkpoint brutally beat the young man for “possession of damaged ID”, despite him having a notice from “Souls Department” as an alternative for the damaged ID, on the road of Bait Jinn near Sa’saa town in western Rif Dimashq.

 

• November 5: Members of the regime’s “Political Security” branch arested four merchants in markets in the capital, Damascus, on charge of “dealing in US dollar instead of the Syrian currency.”

 

• November 6: A civilian of “Bani Khalid” tribe from Deir Baalaba city in northern Homs countryside was arrested, after arriving to Homs city from Al-Rukban camp on Syria-Iraq-Jordan border.

 

• November 15: Members of the “Military Security” branch arrested a person accused of “drug dealing” in Jirmana in Rif Dimashq. It is worth noting that the arrested person is from Bakhaa town in Al-Qalmon Al-Gharby area.

 

• November 15: Regime security services arrested a young man from Al-Masifra town in Daraa countryside, on the international road between Damascus and Daraa and he was taken to an unknown destination. However, the reasons behind the arrest remained unknown.

 

• November 18: The security services of the regime forces arrested two young men in Daraa for unknown reasons.

 

• November 19: The regime’s security services arrested a young man from Al-Shuhayil city in Deir Ezzor countryside while he was on his way to issuing a passport in Deir Ezzor city to travel to the UAE after he had struck a settlement deal with the regime.

 

• November 21: Members of the regime’s military security service arbitrarily arrested a civilian in Al-Emara neighbourhood in Syria’s capital, Damascus, for unknown reasons.

 

• November 22: Regime security services arrested a civilian in his 50s, while he was in Al-Roston city northern of Homs, where he was taken to an unknown destination, without knowing the charges pressed against him.

 

• November 27: Three young men were arrested in Al-Dababyeer park in Homs city centre by members of a joint security patrol of regime’s intelligence.

 

• November 27: Regime soldiers stationed at Ma’abar Al-Mayadeen checkpoint arrested a young man known by his initials as (A. A) After entering Deir Ezzor from Al-Jazeera area. It is worth noting that the young man is a university student who travels between Al-Hasakah province and Deir Ezzor.

 

• November 28: A young man from Khirab Al-Shahm in Daraa province was arrested by “military security” members stationed at a checkpoint on Al-Dahiya road for unknown charges.

 

• November 29: Members of a checkpoint of the “Military Security” branch arrested seven civilians of “Al-Madalja” tribe from Al-Lojaa area, between Al-Bokaa neighbourhood and Ezrae city in eastern Daraa countryside.

 

• November 29: Members of the regime’s “Military Security” branch in Al-Bo Kamal city eastern of Deir Ezzor arrested several young men at the checkpoints deployed in the vicinity and the inside of the city, to drive them to “compulsory service.”

 

• Regime forces and security services also arrested 13 civilians from Aleppo city on various charges at different periods of time over November, where the most prominent accusation was “evading mandatory conscripting.”

 

Kidnaps:

 

• November 3: An armed gang kidnapped a civilian in his 60s, while he was heading towards Lebanon through western Homs countryside. Meanwhile, the members of the gang contacted the family of the kidnapped civilian demanding a ransom of 10,000 USDs for his release. According to reliable SOHR sources, the civilian hails from Amra village north eastern of Al-Swuaydaa, and works in trading dairy products, and headed to Lebanon for migration due to the harsh living conditions in the region.

 

• November 11: Unknown gunmen kidnapped a dignitary from Al-Sahwa town, who is a member of the reconciliation committee in Al-Jiza town, and took over his car, while he was leaving his house in the eastern countryside of Daraa.

 

• November 11: An armed gang kidnapped a 15 years old child from Al-Shaikh Maskin city in Daraa countryside, where the gang members contacted the family of the child demanding 25,000,000 Syrian Liras, amid appeals by his family to reveal the fate of their kidnapped child. According to reliable SOHR sources, the gang members sent a video tape to his family showing signs of torture on the child by the gang, to blackmail them and to collect ransoms. The fate of the child remains unknown.

 

 

“Symbolic” reconciliations

 

On November 10, regime government announced the initiation of settlement deals for wanted persons within and around Al-Nashabiyeh area in Rif Dimashq. This came as a part of the ongoing settlement deals, and the opening of several centres recently initiated by the regime government to attract displaced persons outside regime-held areas.

 

While on November 16, the comprehensive settlement committees began their work in Saqba city in Eastern Ghouta to complete the settlement of the security status of the residents of Rif Dimashq and to register persons wishing to settle their security status after the end of its work in the previous day in Ain Tarma town. Although the Committee called on all people to settle the status of fugitives, defaulters and suspects by regime security services by attending and submitting applications at the Administrative Unit building in Eastern Ghouta, the turnout of the people remains low.

 

Similarly, on November 13, the settlement process began at “settlement centre” recently established by the regime forces in Al-Waer neighbourhood of Homs, following a meeting that brought together dignitaries from Homs city with Homs governor and military figures to settle the status of civilians and military wanted by the security services. This came as a part of the regime’s efforts to attract civilians outside areas under the control of regime forces by inviting them to strike reconciliation deals. According to SOHR activists, the Centre began to settle the status of wanted for security services from Homs and other Syrian provinces. However, SOHR activists have monitored low turnout, where not more than 200 people headed to the centre on the first day, despite the regime promoted the reconciliation a week earlier, and made media buzz to open a centre for reception in Al-Moared city in Al-Waar neighbourhood in Homs.

 

On the other hand, members of the regime’s security branches caused chaos, while organizing reconciliation operations and interrogating those applying, causing huge chaos in the area, with screams and shouts between members and a stampede among people applying at the reconciliation centre. The settlement took place in the presence of the Head of the State Security Intelligence Division, Major General “Hossam Luqa” and the Governor of Homs “Namir Makhlof”, in addition to the Head of the State Security Branch, Brigadier General “Madin Modda”, the Head of the Military Security Branch, Brigadier General “Muhammed Suleiman Qina”, in addition to the individual military judge responsible over the affairs of the defected people who did not undergo reserve and mandatory services of the regime. According to SOHR sources, the settlement which includes the situation of wanted suspects for the security branches was delayed until noon, where the security forces made sure to hold the personal identities of civilians present inside the hall to ensure that they do not leave, and to show the largest possible number of families in front of the lenses of the pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian media.

 

A large segment of the people of Homs governorate considered that the total number of auditors, which did not exceed 200 people on the first day of settlements, is very small compared to the number of suspects from Homs and its countryside, in addition to the rest of the governorates that announced the committee’s readiness to receive them in Homs. It is worth noting that in the settlement process that took place today in the Al-Waar neighborhood of Homs that the window concerned with undergoing settlements (the external department), specifically for those who decided to return from neighboring countries, was empty during the period of receiving settlement requests.

 

SOHR sources reported later that the Security and Military Commission, which began its work on November 13, asked the people who wanted to settle their status in Al-Ma’ared city in Al-Waer neighbourhood in Homs to review intelligence branches, as a step to obtain the settlement card. SOHR sources also reported that the Security and Military Commission communicated with people with settled-status and asked them to review the Centre for the delivery of settlement cards and then check the security branches to complete the process of settling their security status.

 

Speaking to SOHR, a resident of Homs known by his initials as A. M., who applied for a settlement card by striking a settlement deal, says that the security investigator informed all the applicants with a settlement card that they must review security and intelligence branches before obtaining the settlement card. The man added that this demand prompted dozens of young men to reverse the request to settle their status for fear of arrests due to the lack of confidence in dealing with intelligence branches.

 

The head of the Damascus State Security Intelligence Branch, Major General Hussam Luqa, had pledged as the Settlement Committee began its work to grant all applicants with settlement cards that would ensure the removal of their names from security branches and not reviewing these branches, provided there was no personal allegation.

 

 

Rampant drug business and smuggling operations near Syria-Jordan border

 

Clashes erupted, on November 16, between the Jordanian army on one hand and an armed group working on smuggling drugs on the other hand, while the group was smuggling a huge amount of drugs and weapons taking advantage of the weather, where the clashes erupted near Al-Sha’ab village at borders between Syria and Jordan in eastern Al-Suwaydaa countryside, while the Jordanian army managed to stop the smuggling operation and the armed group fled towards Syrian territory leaving the materials that were set to be smuggled behind.

 

On November 28, reliable sources informed SOHR that the bodies found by residents near Khirbet Awad village in southern Al-Suwaydaa countryside, near the Syrian-Jordanian border a day earlier, were of smugglers working for the Lebanese Hezbollah and the 4^th Division. The smugglers were killed in clashes with Jordanian border guards on Friday night. Armed clashes took place between the drug smugglers and Jordan border guards, as the drug smugglers attempted to bring a haul of “drugs” into Jordanian territory.

 

The Syrian Observatory activists had reported that the clashes left five deaths and seven injuries. The injured people were taken to Al-Suwaydaa hospital for treatment under the protection of Lebanese Hezbollah members. It is worth noting that the death toll is believed to rise due to some sustained serious injuries, with two of the injured people coming into a coma. According to SOHR sources, all the dead people are from Al-Ghayath tribe and work in the trade and promotion of “drugs” in Jordan, relying on their acquaintance of tribesmen in Jordan to smuggle “drugs.”

 

 

Regime soldiers evade service in Syrian desert, fearing ISIS attacks

 

In November 2022, ISIS continued its operations, including armed attacks and ambushes, in areas under the control of the Syrian regime and its allies in the Syrian desert, especially in Al-Rasafah desert, the surrounding areas of Jabal Al-Bishri in Al-Raqqah, the frontlines of Ithriyah and other frontlines in the eastern countryside of Hama, the desert of Al-Sukhnah, Palmyra in Homs countryside, Deir Ezzor desert and the administrative border between Al-Raqqah and Deir Ezzor.

 

According to SOHR statistics, ISIS managed to kill 13 regime soldiers and proxy militiamen, including two Iranian-backed Syrian and non-Syrian militiamen, in seven attacks in the Syrian desert in the past month.

 

While ISIS lost three members in Russian airstrikes on ISIS hideouts in Syrian desert.

 

Moreover, ISIS members capturing two members of the 4th Division, on November 4, at a security checkpoint on the highway near Dweir village, east of Deir Ezzor. The two members were taken to an unknown destination.

 

In this context, reliable sources informed SOHR that regime forces in Al-Kiswa area in western Rif Dimashq paid bribes to their officer, with the aim of not sending in anti-ISIS combing campaigns in Syrian desert, as winter begins, fog and winds spread in the desert. Regime soldiers feared ambushes and attacks waged by ISIS against regime forces and their proxy militias in the Syrian desert, especially in the winter, due to weather conditions. According to the sources, regime forces paid sums ranging from 50,000 to 80,000 SYP in exchange for exemption from military missions in the Syrian desert.

 

It is worth noting that bribes are considered a major source of income for officers of the “Syrian Arab Armed Forces.”

 

 

Alarming living crises threatening of new humanitarian catastrophes

 

Fuel crisis has been deteriorating further throughout areas controlled by the Syrian regime, because of the high demand in light of the currently cold weather and acute shortage of fuels, mainly petrol and diesel, at a time when the regime’s authorities seem indifferent and have failed so far to secure the needs of the residents of fuels. In Damascus, text messages, which inform beneficiaries of the delivery of fuel allowances at petrol stations in order to receive their allocations of fuel, delayed for more than 13 days.

 

On the other hand, markets in most of areas controlled by the Syrian regime have run out of diesel for no reasons, which led to the current stifling crisis. Diesel is sometimes available on black markets, but it is sold at very high prices, which further burdens civilians.

 

On the other hand, drivers of public vehicles are struggling with the acute shortage of petrol. Regime authorities have allocated 200 litres of petrol to every car. However, the amount which is actually distributed is 75 litres, after waiting a role for ten days. In an attempt to secure petrol, regime’s Department of Fuel has raised the price of petrol from 27,500 SYP to 62,500 SYP every 25 litres. However, petrol has not been available at petrol stations so far. Ironically, petrol is available on black markets, so civilians find themselves obligated to buy it for prohibitively high prices.

 

As text messages are delayed for 13 or 14 days, a car owner could not got more than 50 litres of petrol every month. Accordingly, car owners are forced to stop working on their cars or to buy petrol on black markets, which makes them shoulder extra burdens.

 

On the other hand, a crisis is looming across Syria, especially in regime-controlled areas, as markets in most of the Syrian provinces have run out of basic sources of energy, including diesel, petrol, electricity and gas cylinder.

 

With the beginning of winter, the chronic and successive crises in Damascus and Rif Dimashq have badly impacted the already deteriorating services and transportation and make civilians and farmers shoulder extra burdens.

 

In this context, SOHR sources have reported that the rate-setting committee in Damascus has issued a decision increasing the price of electricity to 300 up to 400 SYP in light of the acute shortage of fuels. The new increase has led to increasing the prices of all products in those provinces, while the price of fertilisers has been doubled. Meanwhile, the Syrian telecom company has suspended work because of the lack of fuel needed to operating power generators, putting several telephone exchange centres out of service.

 

On the other hand, SOHR sources have reported public anger in light of the mishandling of the frequent and chronic crises in regime-controlled areas.

 

Speaking to SOHR, a civilian known by his initials as A. B. from Damascus says that the diesel and petrol allocations in Damascus have been deducted to only one-quarter of the total amount, at a time when diesel and petrol are available on black markets but at high prices. The man says, “on black markets, petrol is sold for 11,000 SYP per litre, while diesel is sold for 6,500 SYP a litre. Fuels are distributed according to nepotism, as many families in Damascus have not received the first batch of diesel allowances allocated for this year; let alone the crisis of household gas. The crisis has affected most of the Syrian provinces.”

 

On the other hand, a woman known as S. H. has told SOHR that residents in Damascus are suffering from the lack of medicines, while no solutions are looming in the horizon still. The woman calls upon humanitarian organisations to pay more attention to the situation of civilians and highlight their plight in order to reach workable solutions to the chronic crises which Syrian civilians are struggling with.

 

It is worth noting that all zones of influence across the entire Syrian geography experience lack of basic essentials, amid authorities mishandling of crises.

 

 

 

Ongoing Israeli attacks

 

As Israel continues to violate Syria’s sovereignty, SOHR documented two Israeli attacks that left heavy human and material losses. Here are further details of these attacks:

 

• November 13: Three members of the regime’s air-defence forces, including a major and a lieutenant, were killed and 16 others injured by Israeli strikes that targeted an arms depot of Iranian-backed militias, Iranian air-defences and a drone centre in Al-She’ayrat airbase area in Homs countryside.

 

• November 19: Israeli fighter jets attacked Iranian-baked militias’ sites and a regime air-defence battery in central Syria. The airstrikes targeted positions of Iranian-backed militias Masyaf countryside in the western countryside of Hama, other positions in Homs countryside and Jableh countryside in Latakia province. The attack left four Syrian military personnel, including three officers, dead and others injured, as well as destroying the weapons and ammunitions of Iranian-baked militias, amid confirmed reports of fatalities among the Iranian-backed militias.

 

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has been all along warning against the repercussions of the crippling chronic crises and security chaos in regime-controlled areas and elsewhere in Syria, with only the Syrian regime to blame for the disastrous situation Syria is in right now. We, at the Syrian Observatory, call upon all international actors not to abandon their responsibility and obligations towards the people of Syria and urge them to find a lasting solution to the tragedy of millions of Syrians and bring Al-Assad, his affiliates and all those responsible for violations and those who aided and abetted the killing of Syrian people to justice.