On Thursday, anti-government armed groups led an offensive against Syrian government forces, taking the major city of Hama. Shortly before, the groups seized large swaths of territory, including Aleppo city.
The Syrian government, alongside Russian forces, has carried out airstrikes in Aleppo and other areas in response. Both sides have promised restraint and to uphold humanitarian norms, but UN officials have already described the situation in Aleppo as “rapidly deteriorating.”
Human Rights Watch believes:
- Escalating hostilities put civilians at risk of serious abuses.
- Our concerns include unlawful attacks, arbitrary detentions, and displacement.
- Warring parties should ensure civilians are protected
Tens of thousands of Syrians have been displaced since the fighting escalated November 27 and attacks by both government and opposition forces have killed at least dozens of civilians so far.
The Plight of Syrian Refugees
Meanwhile, some of the millions of refugees created by Syria’s war risk being forced back to Syria, as some governments, including in the EU and Lebanon, have in recent years deemed Syria “safe” for refugees to return to.
But our research shows a grim reality for refugees who return to Syria, as they not only face a harsh economic reality but also arbitrary arrests, torture, and extra-judicial killings at the hands of Syrian security agencies.
Syria wasn’t safe then, and it isn’t now, as the recent escalating in fighting shows.
Reasons for Concern
The Syrian government is responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed since the conflict broke out in 2011.
Syrian and Russian armed forces have repeatedly attacked civilian infrastructure and used indiscriminate weapons such as cluster munitions and incendiary weapons in civilian areas.
Human Rights Watch and others have also extensively documented the arbitrary detention and torture of tens of thousands of people by Syrian government forces.
Given the conduct of the Syrian government throughout the nearly 14-year conflict, it may again engage in similarly brutal and unlawful tactics.
Syrians need credible justice and leaders need to support accountability. Without it, the suffering of Syrian civilians is bound to continue.
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