A/HRC/22/59
Findings
95.
There are reasonable grounds to believe that the Government has conducted
hostilities in a manner that has spread terror among the civilian population, in violation of
international humanitarian law.
96.
Indiscriminate and widespread shelling, the regular bombardment of cities, mass
killing, indiscriminate firing on civilian targets, firing on civilian gatherings, and a
protracted campaign of shelling and sniping on civilian areas, has characterised the conduct
of the Government. Syrian armed forces have implemented a strategy, which uses shelling
and sniper fire to kill, maim, wound and terrorise the civilian inhabitants of areas which
have fallen under anti-Government armed group control. Shelling and sniper fire by
government forces have killed and wounded civilians of both sexes and all ages, including
children and the elderly.
97.
Information collected indicates that many of the aerial and shelling attacks by
Government forces are conducted indiscriminately. In incidents where an objective
determination of the expected military advantage of an attack and the collateral damage
expected by any reasonable commander, and whether the latter was excessive could be
made, the commission found there were reasonable grounds to believe that certain attacks,
such as those on bread lines outside bakeries, in particular Halfaya in Hama, were
disproportionate.
98.
The commission has collected and corroborated information from first-hand
accounts. Many of the interviewees provided the names of the dead, including those of
women and young children. Details of Syrian military entities responsible for the shelling
and aerial bombardments and names of their commanders have also been recorded in some
instances.
99.
The use of snipers to control the movement of people and assert control over areas
has caused considerable civilian casualties as snipers fail to distinguish between civilians
— or those whose status should be presumed to be civilian — and those participating in
hostilities. The targeting of individuals from concealed positions in urban areas infuses a
degree of terror within the civilian population. Investigations relating to the conduct of
hostilities by anti-Government armed groups are on-going.
100. There are reasonable grounds to believe that some of these attacks amount to the war
crime of attacking civilians. The commission has identified a pattern that appears to amount
to a concerted campaign against civilians in anti-Government armed group-controlled areas.
The killing of persons, when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack
directed against a civilian population, pursuant to or in furtherance of a State policy,
amounts to the crime against humanity of murder. Investigation into this pattern of conduct
continues.
II. Anti-Government armed groups
A.
Bombings
101. Named anti-Government armed groups claimed responsibility for a number of
bombings in Aleppo and Damascus during the reporting period.
102. On 9 September, two bombs exploded in Aleppo, reportedly targeting a makeshift
barracks in a stadium and the military police headquarters. Both were located in two
adjacent sealed off districts in the centre of the city. The number of civilians killed and
injured was disputed. According to media reports, the FSA’s Noble Brigade claimed
102
GE.13-10627
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