A/HRC/28/69
H.
Unlawful attacks
1.
Government forces
217. As the Government’s aerial campaign intensified on Raqqah city and governorate,
the Syrian air force continued to attack Aleppo city and its surroundings. Between
September and October 2014, the districts of Haydaria, Ard Hamra and Masakin Hanano
were targeted with barrel bombs on several documented occasions, killing civilians. A
doctor working in Aleppo city reported that the majority of his patients in critical condition
displayed wounds consistent with barrel bomb injuries.
218. The Government aerial bombardment campaign on non-State armed groupcontrolled areas of Aleppo has been ongoing since August 2012. In the course of the
campaign, Aleppo experienced mass displacement, in particular following the start of the
offensive in October 2013. However, interviewees described how those who lacked
resources, feared arrest and detention, or were too weak to flee, remained despite the
constant threat of bombardment. On 16 September, a Government helicopter dropped a
barrel bomb on a crowded vegetable market in Tariq Al-Bab, killing six civilians and
injuring 10 others. In October 2014, Al-Sukkari and other eastern districts of Aleppo, which
had been under repeated attack, were again hit with barrel bombs, killing civilians.
219. Between July and September 2014, Government forces dropped barrel bombs and
conducted airstrikes on the southern countryside of Idlib province, an area which hosts
large numbers of IDPs. One survivor from Sinjar described the attacks as following a
pattern of regular bombardments during daylight hours. Barrel bombs were dropped by
transport helicopters at night, between 3 and 4am. According to witnesses, the attacks were
conducted without distinguishing between civilian and military targets. In an attack around
16 July 2014, a barrel bomb was dropped on a civilian home at night, killing its inhabitants,
including two young children.
220. Since the Government began a concerted aerial campaign against ISIS, they have
conducted their strikes in an indiscriminate manner, hitting civilian objects and causing
considerable civilian casualties. On 18 October 2014, Government forces hit Al-Mahdom
Bakery in Minbeij, Aleppo, killing the civilian employees inside. On 6 November,
Government forces hit a school in Dar Tazzah, injuring children in the attack.
221. Raqqah city has been bombarded on a regular basis throughout September 2014 –
January 2015. Government forces have dropped barrel bombs on civilian targets and
conducted their hostilities in an indiscriminate manner. On 25 November 2014, densely
populated civilian locations were subjected to heavy aerial bombardment. The attack began
with two airstrikes targeting the industrial area east of Raqqah city. The Hanni Mosque was
subsequently hit with two targeted airstrikes, causing considerable damage to the mosque
and surrounding area. The Museum Square, a busy part of Raqqah city was hit thereafter.
The Boulman public transport station was targeted, with airstrikes hitting two buses and
killing the passengers inside. According to witnesses of the attacks, there was no armed
group or ISIS activity in any of the targeted areas. Interviewees suggested that the attacks
were carried out in retaliation for ISIS executing captured Government soldiers. The aerial
campaign on Raqqah city has resulted in extensive civilian casualties.
222. Government attacks on ISIS-controlled areas in Dayr az Zawr, namely on Al-Ashara
in July, Al-Tayanna on 3 August, Al-Mayadin in August and Tibneh throughout 2014 have
been conducted in an indiscriminate manner, causing considerable civilian casualties.
Government forces indiscriminately bombarded Ahrar Al-Ghweran district in Hasakah city
on 12 August 2014, as part of a concerted assault on the area. Aqaribat (Hama) was also
subjected to indiscriminate attacks in October 2014, leading to civilian casualties and the
destruction of civilian property.
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