A/HRC/45/31 those interned comprise children, elderly persons, infirm persons and others who could not reasonably be perceived to represent an imperative security risk. Therefore, in many instances, the ongoing internment of these individuals continues to amount to unlawful deprivation of liberty.90 VI. Idlib Governorate and western Aleppo 81. In its recent report on Idlib Governorate and western Aleppo, covering the period between November 2019 and June 2020, the Commission documented 52 emblematic attacks by all parties that led to civilian casualties and/or damage to civilian infrastructure.91 These battles were marked by war crimes, including launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in death or injury to civilians. Continuing previously established patterns, the Commission also documented attacks against medical facilities, schools and markets, which deprived scores of civilians of access to health care, education and food. 82. The battles displaced nearly 1 million people. The Commission found that progovernment forces may have perpetrated the crimes against humanity of forcible transfer, murder and other inhumane acts 92 during the offensives on Ma’arrat al-Nu’man (second half of December 2019), Ariha (29 January 2020), Atarib (between 10 and 14 February 2020) and Darat Izzah (17 February 2020). 83. When civilians fled, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham pillaged their homes. In restive areas under its control, members of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham also committed the war crimes of murder; of passing sentences and carrying out executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court; and of cruel treatment, ill-treatment and torture.93 A. Pro-government forces 84. In areas retaken by pro-government forces, including Ma’arrat al-Nu’man and Saraqib, incidents of looting persisted, while a number of fires affecting agricultural crops indispensable to the survival of the civilian population were documented. 94 By early June, following a lull in hostilities, some displaced civilians returned 95 only to flee again as fighting resumed. For example, on 9 June, at around 6.30 a.m., at least three airstrikes were carried out by pro-government forces within a span of 10 minutes, impacting a residential area and adjacent agricultural fields, situated some 200 metres from a maternity hospital in Balyun village.96 At least three civilian homes were destroyed, while a man and a woman, both previously displaced, were killed. Five others were injured inside their home, including two girls and one boy aged between 4 and 14 years. The wounded were brought to the city of Idlib, as there was no operational hospital in the vicinity of Balyun. 85. Imagery and video footage obtained by the Commission indicate the use of a blast weapon with wide-area effects, such as highly explosive unguided fragmentation bombs (likely of 250 to 300 kg). With regard to potential military targets, the Commission sought but did not receive information from pro-government forces, while it received reports of there being two Turkish military posts located approximately 1 kilometre from the impacted location.97 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 18 ICRC rules 99 and 87. See also A/HRC/37/72, paras. 12–18. A/HRC/44/61. Ibid. Ibid.; and ICRC rules 156 and 90. Ibid. See also A/HRC/42/51, paras. 49 and 53. Approximately 204,000 spontaneous returns have been recorded in the north-west of the Syrian Arab Republic since January 2020, including nearly 26,000 people who returned in June, primarily to southern and eastern Idlib. See https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/recent-developmentsnorthwest-syria-situation-report-no-17-13-july-2020. The adjacent dentistry building had already been hit in an airstrike on 23 February. See A/HRC/44/61. Note verbales were sent to the Syrian Arab Republic and the Russian Federation on 30 June 2020.