A/HRC/25/65
missiles and artillery shelling. In December, Mayer village was indiscriminately shelled
from army positions in Nubul and Zahra.
90.
Towns and villages in Damascus governorate came under incessant attack. Between
mid-September and mid-October, Al-Ghouta suffered intense, often daily, aerial
bombardment, which had a devastating impact on the densely populated area. Muadamiyah
and Daraya, also under siege, were shelled and bombarded. Qaboun, Dumayr, Beit Jin and
Zabadani were also unlawfully attacked. In the Qalamoun region, indiscriminate attacks by
Government forces during November and December forced more than 4,000 families to
flee.
91.
Government forces repeatedly fired shells and missiles on the Tariq Al-Saad and
Saharra neighbourhoods of Dara’a city. In July and August, indiscriminate attacks – usually
shelling from nearby army positions – were documented in Nawa, Alma, Naseeb, Dael,
Inkhel and Yadoudeh in Dara’a governorate.
92.
Attacks on villages and towns in Idlib governorate are too numerous to detail. The
region of Jabal Al-Zawiya and, in particular, the towns of Saraqib, Kafr Nabl and Maarat
Al-Numan, came under intense aerial bombardment between July and October, including
by barrel bombs. On 21 July, a market in Ariha was bombarded, resulting in mass civilian
casualties. Ariha was heavily attacked between 24 August and 3 September. In both attacks,
there were significant civilian casualties.
93.
Ar Raqqah city came under aerial bombardment, including the use of barrel bombs,
in July. On 29 September, a jet bombarded a school, killing 16 people, 13 of whom were
children.
94.
Shelling and aerial bombardments were also documented in Homs, Hama, AlHasakah and Dayr az Zawr governorates.
95.
Government forces launched indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks in violation
of international humanitarian law.
96.
Government forces continued to position military objectives inside towns and
villages, including Nubul and Zahra (Aleppo), thereby endangering the civilian population
and violating international legal obligations.
(b)
Sniper attacks
97.
In Aleppo city, warring parties demarcated areas under their control, positioning
snipers overlooking the front lines. Bustan Al-Qasr remained as the sole passage between
government-controlled and non-State armed group-controlled areas of Aleppo city.
Government snipers positioned on Aleppo City Hall, a high-rise building providing an
vantage point, target, maim and kill civilians crossing Bustan Al-Qasr.
98.
Doctors in hospitals in opposition-controlled Aleppo described having treated an
unusually high number of sniper injuries since June 2013. Most victims were civilians
coming from areas affected by shortages, crossing Bustan Al-Qasr to have access to
cheaper goods. Victims were of all ages, including children, the elderly and pregnant
women. One doctor stated that civilians were being used “for target practice”. A surgeon
operating in another hospital confirmed this practice, explaining that, on certain days, he
saw a clear pattern to sniper injuries. Most victims had a single wound from a high-velocity
gunshot, causing “enormous amounts of damage” and heavy bleeding. Maimed, the victims
were often left to bleed in the street, as anyone who approached to help would be shot.
99.
Sniper attacks targeting civilians were also documented in Yarmouk and Dara’a Al
Balad (Dara’a).
15
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