Dramatic escalation in attacks against civilians threatens stability in fragile region
The American Coalition for Syria (ACS) strongly condemns the recent escalation of brutal attacks against residential areas in opposition-held northwest Syria by the Assad regime and its Russian backers. Almost three days of continued airstrikes and bombardments have resulted in at least 20 fatalities and 114 injuries. ACS is deeply concerned about the Assad regime intensifying military operations in civilian opposition-held areas, which threaten the lives of innocent civilians and risk further destabilizing a fragile region.
The killing rampage unfolded after state-run media reported a drone attack in Homs, Syria, targeting a graduation ceremony for regime military officers. This disturbing trend reveals the regime's exploitation of moments of instability to justify intensified attacks on civilians, perpetuating a dangerous cycle of violence. Alarmingly, it echoes the tactics employed during the early Hafez Al-Assad era when an attack on a military academy in Aleppo in 1979 served as a pretext to consolidate power through heightened military campaigns that resulted in the tragic deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.
ACS calls on the United States and other guarantors of the current tenuous reduction of hostilities to ensure that the Assad regime and its backers are not using the latest attack in Homs as a pretext to further military campaigns. ACS is unwavering in its commitment to advancing the coalition's advocacy initiatives. Key priorities, including securing additional stabilization funding for the northwest, play a crucial role in countering the malign actions of Assad, Iran, and Russia. Now, more than ever, a unified global condemnation of the Assad regime’s atrocities is critical to halting this dangerous escalation before more war crimes are committed.
