109 killed and not less than 604 breaches
SNHR issued its 17th report that documented the violations of truce which started on Saturday, 27 February. It recorded 13 breaches which included 5 breaches through military attacks by government forces and one breach by Kurdish self-management. It also recorded 8 breaches through arrests by government forces. The total of breaches were 604 breaches since the beginning of the truce in 27 February.
The report questioned the ceasefire and its outcomes since it is sponsored by Russian and the USA only. As it is known, Russia cannot take that part since it is a loyal ally to the Syrian regime and one of its supporters. The Syrian regime has violated and breached several UNSC resolutions and it was not held accountable.
Fadel Abdul Ghani, head of SNHR, stated that: “The international community, represented by the UNSC, knows exactly what it should do to end this circle of violence, however, it resorts to unproductive solutions. They need a political transition that would transform the ruling to a democratic one. They have previously said that after Geneva 1, the bloodshed is not going to end and state administrations will be doomed to failure. ISIL and Iranian militias are filling the space the corrupted Syrian government left. They are with any agreement or resolution that would end the cycle of violence and massacres in Syria.”
The report indicated that the Syrian regime and its Russian accomplice can strike regions under the control of armed opposition in northern of Syria under the pretext of the presence Al Nusra front, even if it is extremely limited, without breaching the ceasefire.
The report documented the bare minimum of what they were able to document according to their methodology and based on two different sources of information for each incidents. The report depicted the military attacks by all those binding truce (government forces, Russian forces, Kurdish self-management, and armed opposition groups) in regions under the control of armed opposition and in regions that are controlled by joint forces of Al Nusra front and the armed opposition groups. The report also did not include any military operations in regions under ISIL’s control.
The report did not record any releases cases of women or children by any conflict parties. While there are many regions are still besieged like northern Homs suburbs
The report presented the distribution of the violations through arrests, according to Syrian governorates, as follows: 2 breaches in Damascus, 3 breaches in Damascus suburbs, 2 breaches in Aleppo, and one breach in Homs.
The report recommended the joint American and Russian committee to investigate those incidents, announce its results to the Syrian people and prevent it from happening again.
The report demanded the international community to correlate the ceasefire with political efforts that would pave the way towards a transitional stage that would result in a democratic regime, which will end the suffering of the Syrian people.
The report indicated that if breaches are still being committed, then that fragile ceasefire may fail at any moment. Since USA is a major advocate for this agreement, then it should persuade the Russian government to cease its airstrikes and pressure its ally the Syrian government to do so.