The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry released a report on Monday detailing the most severe escalation of violence in Syria since 2020. This surge in violence was reportedly initiated by explosions at a military academy graduation ceremony in Homs.
According to the Commission, subsequent attacks by Syrian and Russian forces on opposition-held areas were indiscriminate in nature, striking targets such as hospitals, schools, and displaced persons camps. Such actions could potentially amount to war crimes under international law.
The situation was further exacerbated by the conflict outbroken in the Gaza Strip which involved Israel, Iran, and the US. State-run media reports suggest that Israel has conducted numerous strikes on Iran-affiliated targets in Syria, causing damage to crucial infrastructure, and disrupting UN humanitarian efforts. In response, the US has launched retaliatory air strikes in Syria’s east.
Within this context, the humanitarian crisis is devastating, with over 90 percent of Syrians living in poverty. Economic struggle is rampant, and the economy continues to decline due to tightening sanctions, while lawlessness is leading to exploitative practices by various armed forces and militias.
The accelerated operations of the Turkish military against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria have further worsened the condition. Aerial attacks reportedly deprived nearly one million people of water and electricity, indicating potential violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes. Further human rights abuses such as disappearances, torture, and ill-treatment by the Syrian government are also noted in the report.
Paulo Pinheiro, the Chair of the Commission, emphasized the urgency of ceasing the violence. “Since October, Syria has seen the largest escalation in fighting in four years. With the region in turmoil, a determined international effort to contain the fighting on Syrian soil is imperative. Syria, too, desperately needs a ceasefire,” he declared.
The report is scheduled to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council on March 18.