A/HRC/28/69 223. On 3 September, a Government jet struck an ISIS checkpoint near Al-Shula. While killing ISIS fighters, the disproportionate attack also killed 21 civilians, most of them children, who were in a bus at the checkpoint at the time. The available information suggests that this attack was disproportionate, causing excessive incidental death and injury, in relation to the direct, overall anticipated military advantage. 224. Government forces continued to carry out indiscriminate attacks against areas with non-State armed group presence in Rif Damascus. Douma and Mesraba were subject to bombardment between July and September 2014. In the context of the siege on Zabadani, Government forces continued shelling the area and using landmines, causing considerable harm to the civilian population. Civilians, including children were killed in an aerial attack on a market in Arbin on 9 October 2014. 225. The increase in intensity of hostilities on the southern front of the Government’s military offensive has also caused extensive civilian casualties. Indiscriminate attacks were carried out in Namar from July to August, Samlin on 1-2 August 2014, Tafas between June and August, in Al-Arba’een neighbourhood in Dara’a Al Balad on 4 September 2014. 226. Persons displaced as a result of Government attacks have been further targeted while fleeing Syria. Survivors described shelling targeting convoys in Dara’a transporting displaced civilians moving toward the Syrian-Jordanian border. Many people have been unable to flee Syria to neighbouring states, including Jordan and Lebanon, due to restrictions on persons seeking refuge. 227. The strikes and shelling attacks continued through October 2014, with Tariq Al Sad neighbourhood in Dara’a city targeted with bombardment on 9 October 2014. A barrel bomb attack on Al-Mahata market in Dara’a city in mid-October, leading to civilian casualties, among them children. Inkhil was shelled in October, killing and wounding civilians in the area. Al-Mezeireeb was aerially bombarded on 20 October 2014. The attack killed and injured farmers working in their fields. 228. During the reporting period, the Government undertook an aerial campaign on Ar Raqqah and continued its aerial assault on Dara’a. The pattern of attacks and manner in which they were carried out demonstrates an apparent lack of precautions taken by Syrian forces and a lack of distinction between military and civilian targets. The use of barrel bombs in aerial campaigns against whole areas is in violation of international humanitarian law and in some cases, amounts to the war crime of targeting civilians. Government forces have systematically targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure, demonstrating the intent to kill, wound and maim. Targets have included markets, shops, hospitals, schools, and public spaces where civilians gather in large numbers. 2. Non-State armed groups Anti-Government armed groups 229. In conducting hostilities, non-State armed groups relied on the inherently indiscriminate use of vehicle-borne (VBIED) and roadside improvised explosive devices (IED), and continued to fire mortars indiscriminately at civilian areas under Government control. 230. Armed groups positioned in eastern Ghouta in Rif Damascus continued to shell residential neighbourhoods in Damascus city controlled by the Government. In August, civilians living in Al Amara and Jaramana districts of Damascus were subjected to indiscriminate mortar shelling, which caused civilian deaths and injuries. Between 6 and 14 September, fighters from Jaysh Al-Islam shelled Al-Kabbas neighbourhood, and Douelaa on 20 and 30 September. In November, As Sadat and Al Amara were shelled by armed groups, and Mezzeh was hit by mortar fire reportedly fired from eastern Ghouta. 55