US, Russia: Investigate Deadly New Attacks in Aleppo, Syria
Deadly attacks on the city of Aleppo on June 4 and 5, 2016, are a test of theUnited States’ and Russia’s recent commitment to investigate attacks with significant civilian casualties in Syria. They should examine the attacks, which killed at least 32 civilians in opposition-held areas and at least 22 civilians in government-held areas.
In a May 9 statement, the US and Russia promised to carry out a joint assessment of attacks in Syria “leading to significant civilian casualties” and to share the results with the members of the International Syria Support Group Ceasefire Task Force and the UN Security Council. A month later, however, Human Rights Watch is not aware of any joint assessments. The US and Russia should report to the Security Council about these new attacks, and both countries and the Security Council should impose sanctions on those responsible for any attacks that violate international law.
“As fighting escalates again in Aleppo, the US and Russia should keep their commitment to investigate, to maintain their credibility,” saidNadim Houry, deputy Middle East director. “Both the US and Russia should make clear to the warring parties that attacks that kill civilians in violation of international law won’t be tolerated.”
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Syrian group that reports on civilian casualties in the conflict, attacks and shelling on opposition-held Aleppo has intensified since April 22. Between April 22 and June 9, 560 civilians have been killed, including 115 children and 83 women, according to SOHR.
At about 8 a.m. on June 5, airstrikes started hitting residential neighborhoods in opposition-held parts of Aleppo, according to local residents and local members of Syria Civil Defense, a volunteer search and rescue organization which operates in opposition-held areas. One of those neighborhoods was al-Qatirji where the Syrian Network for Human Rights said 12 civilians died.
Source: US, Russia: Investigate Deadly New Attacks in Aleppo, Syria | Human Rights Watch