UN rights office verifying deadly attacks against civilians in Syria

3/12/2024 18:36

        The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights voiced concern on Tuesday about the escalation of hostilities in northwest Syria as his office seeks to verify a number of deadly attacks by both pro-government forces and rebels.
        
        "UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is extremely concerned about the escalation in hostilities in northwest Syria since 27 November, which further compounds the suffering endured by millions of civilians," a spokesperson for Turk, Jeremy Laurence, told a Geneva press briefing.
        
        "Our Office has documented a number of extremely concerning incidents resulting in multiple civilian casualties, including a high number of women and children, stemming from attacks by both Hayat Tahrir al-Shams and by pro-government forces," he added, referring to a former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria.
        
        "I've seen some of the data which is coming out and suggests that there are certainly dozens upon dozens who have been killed," he added. One of the incidents the U.N. rights office is seeking to verify is alleged strikes by HTS against students in Aleppo on Nov. 29 that may have killed four people.
        
        Another is alleged air strikes by pro-government forces in Idlib on Dec. 1 which may have killed 22 civilians at a local market and residential areas.