A/HRC/40/70 43. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attacks of 25 July, and the Commission has regularly documented how the terrorist group systematically perpetrates sectarian violence against religious minorities throughout the Syrian Arab Republic, including against members of the Shia, Christian, Yazidi and Druze faiths (see, e.g., A/HRC/36/55, paras. 44–45).15 There are reasonable grounds to believe that, by attacking and abducting Druze civilians, ISIL militants committed the war crimes of making the civilian population or individual civilians, not taking a direct part in hostilities, the object of attacks, 16 and hostage-taking.17 By holding women and children in inhumane conditions and executing captives, they further committed the war crimes of cruel treatment and murder. 18 Such attacks underscore the fact that, despite conceding vast swathes of territory to government forces and SDF in 2018, the threat of a prolonged low-level insurgency by the terrorist group in the Syrian Arab Republic remains, including in Dayr al-Zawr Governorate. Dayr al-Zawr Governorate 44. Operations against remaining ISIL targets in the east also continued during the reporting period, particularly in swathes of remote desert terrain bordering Iraq. SDF, with support from the United States-led coalition, reignited its offensive on 11 September 2018.19 Concerted operations were launched in Hajin – the remaining sliver of ISIL-held territory along the Euphrates River and home to some 15,000 residents, including up to 5,000 ISIL fighters and their family members. SDF advanced from four separate fronts, including Hajin, Susah, Sha’fah and adjacent villages. By 13 September, some 1,400 civilians who had fled the clashes were confined by SDF to a makeshift camp in Hajin, a few kilometres from the frontline. 45. During the early morning hours of 12 October and under the cover of a dust storm, ISIL fighters attacked the makeshift camp and abducted scores of civilians, primarily women and children. The Commission received reports that some abductees were later executed for having left ISIL territory.20 Prior to the attack, a number of women and children formerly associated with ISIL were reportedly transferred by SDF from the Hajin camp to several different detention facilities throughout Dayr al-Zawr, including in alBusayra, al-Kasra and al-Sour. Approximately 140 children of ISIL militants and some 80 women associated with ISIL fighters are reportedly confined in al-Kasra, where they endure primitive living conditions with virtually no access to medical assistance. Cases of malnourished children have been reported. 46. To overcome ISIL setbacks, SDF relied heavily on international coalition air power, causing a notable increase in civilian casualties and underscoring the link between explosive weapons in densely populated areas and civilian harm. The Commission received reports that air strikes carried out on 18 and 19 October struck the Ammar bin Yasser and Bin Affan mosques in Susah, reportedly causing civilian deaths and injuries (see A/73/454– S/2018/941). One person interviewed by the Commission provided information of an alleged air strike in Susah village (Dayr al-Zawr) on 27 October that reportedly killed five members of the same family, including two women, two girls and a boy. 47. Similarly, a coalition air strike in al-Boubadran neighbourhood of Albu Kamal on 15 November reportedly killed 18 civilians, including 3 women and 14 children. The 15 16 17 18 19 20 10 See also, generally, “‘They came to destroy’: ISIS crimes against the Yazidis”, conference room paper (A/HRC/32/CRP.2). Available from www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/regularsessions/session32/ pages/listreports.aspx. See Jean-Marie Henckaerts and Louise Doswald-Beck, Customary International Humanitarian Law: Volume I – Rules (Geneva, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); Cambridge, United Kingdom, Cambridge University Press, 2005), rule 156. See article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949; see also, Customary International Humanitarian Law, rule 156. Customary International Humanitarian Law, rule 156. In May 2018, SDF had originally announced operation al-Jazeera Storm against ISIL remnants that had regrouped along the Iraqi border. From a doctrinal viewpoint, ISIL regards those attempting to leave its territory as apostates who were leaving dar al-Islam (the territory of Islam) towards dar al-harb (the territory of war).