https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2017/1/26/russian-forces-firebombed-syrian-civilians-at-least-78-times?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=sf
The New Arab
Russian forces firebombed Syrian civilians 'at least 78 times'
At least 51 incendiary weapons were dropped on Aleppo, an SNHR report
found [Getty]
Date of publication: 26 January, 2017
Russian forces have dropped at least 78 incendiary weapons on Syria
since it began its intervention in September 2015.
The "excessively indiscriminate" weapons, used in combat to conceal
land forces' movements by setting fire to their target, were aimed at
residential or agricultural areas, burning victims, rather than being
used for military purposes, a report by the Syrian Network for Human
Rights [SNHR] found.
"This huge number of incidents exhibits a pattern and carelessness,
and sometimes deliberateness, by Russian forces to cause damages to
the Syrian citizens and Syrian lands," Fadel Abdul Ghani, chairman of
SNHR, said in response to the 'Rain of Fire' report, released on
Thursday.
"Apparently, this is a methodology and policy by Russian forces rather
than an indiscriminate individual use.
"Political Russian leaderships have to launch investigations to
follow-up on these incidents, hold those who are responsible
accountable, and compensate those who were affected. Otherwise, they
are partners in these widespread violations."
The report mainly draws upon survivor and witness accounts, and
verified incidents with visual evidence or pictures of weapons
remnants.
There were at least 78 attacks using incendiary weapons by fixed-wing
warplanes believed to be Russian between 30 September, 2015 - the date
on which Russian airstrikes commenced in Syria - and 31 December,
2016.
Most of these attacks happened in June, July and August last year,
with Aleppo suffering the greatest number with 51 incendiary bombs
dropped, followed by Idlib with 19 attacks, Homs with six attacks, and
Damascus suburbs with two attacks.
Four children were killed as a result, with 15 civil facilities
damaged, the report found.
Because the economic and political sanctions are weak, Russia
continues to commit more crimes as it is not paying for the crimes and
interference in Syria even in the slightest The use of the weapons,
which most commonly use napalm or white phosphorus, against
civilian-populated neighbourhoods is a violation of international
humanitarian law.
Russian forces failed to ensure the attacks minimised harm to
civilians and damage to civil infrastructure, SNHR added.
The attacks did not target any military trenches or facilities, the
report found.
"These attacks resulted in the killing and injuring of civilians,
which constitute war crimes," it said.
Human Rights Watch in December also accused the Syrian regime and its
Russian allies of "recklessly" using incendiary weapons.
SNHR has called on the Russian government and an independent
commission to investigate the attacks. It also called on the European
Union to impose stronger sanctions on Russia "given the enormity of
the crimes and violations".
"Because the economic and political sanctions are weak, Russia
continues to commit more crimes as it is not paying for the crimes and
interference in Syria even in the slightest," SNHR said.
This week, a Russian warship used to wage a massive offensive on
Aleppo was seen on its way back to Russia, with a British minister
calling it a "ship of shame".
The Syrian regime and its Russian backers were responsible for at
least 75 percent of civilian deaths in 2016, SNHR has previously
reported.
--
Peace Is Doable
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Green Youth Movement" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
To post to this group, send an email to [email protected].
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
