A/HRC/24/46 7. Anti-government armed groups 158. Al-Ikhbariya correspondent Yara Abbas was killed on 27 May when her crew’s vehicle came under fire from anti-government armed groups in Al Qusayr. 159. Some armed groups detained journalists for extended periods. Their subsequent release without trial, and the confiscation in some cases of their equipment, indicates an intent to prevent journalists from performing their professional work. In two separate incidents, Jabhat Al-Nusra Muhajireen Brigade was involved. C. Pillaging and destruction of property 160. Appropriating property for private or personal use (pillaging) in the context of an armed conflict is a war crime. Deliberately destroying the property of an adversary in the absence of military necessity is illegal under international humanitarian law. Instances of both violations were recorded. 1. Government and pro-government forces 161. Government forces intentionally destroyed the homes, farms and businesses of defectors, suspected anti-government members and supporters during raids. Properties were searched and then looted before being destroyed. This occurred during raids in Baniyas (Tartus) on 2 and 3 May; Musayfrah (Dara’a), on 11 February; Dah adil (Damascus), in February; Karnaz (Hamah), on 25 March; Halfaya (Hamah), on 16 May; and Ramadan (Damascus), on 9 June. 162. Soldiers transported loot in military vehicles. One interviewee reported that looted objects were available at markets in Damascus, and that government forces returning from operations in Darayya “sold the stolen goods along the street in Athar”. 163. Checkpoints have also been a point of unlawful appropriation. In May, internally displaced persons from anti-government areas were targeted at checkpoints in the AlQalamoun region (Damascus) and in Inkhel (Dara’a). 164. Through bulldozing and detonations, neighbourhoods were razed to clear areas near military objectives, such as bases and airports. 165. Residential areas in Damascus, Dara’a and the neighbourhoods of Mosha Arbeen and Wadi Al-Jawz (Hamah) were also razed. 166. On 5 June, government forces demolished civilian houses in eastern Inkhel, located around the perimeter of the 15th Brigade. According to a former resident, the demolitions were aimed at increasing visibility of the town and targeted houses that could be used, by virtue of their location, by anti-government armed group fighters. 167. Demolitions in Mosha Arbeen, Wadi Al-Jawz and Inkhel targeted civilian objects whose destruction could yield military advantage. The destruction of neighbourhoods caused a level of harm to civilian property that is excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. Such disproportionate attacks violate international humanitarian law. 168. Government forces committed the war crime of pillage. They also violated international human rights law pertaining to arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy, family and home. 20