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UN Commission "outraged" by latest attacks against Syrian civilians

Xinhua, May 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Geneva-based United Nations(UN) mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic on Tuesday expressed its outrage at Monday's terrorist attacks in the cities of Tartous and Jableh that have reportedly killed scores of civilians.

In a statement issued on Tuesday here, Commission Chair Paulo Pinheiro stressed that these attacks bring chaos and terror to areas of the country "where some degree of normal life was still possible".

"The Commission stands in solidarity with the Syrian people in demanding that all parties to this war reject such reprehensible violence and take every possible step to protect civilians," Pinheiro added.

The terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

According to media reports, in Tartous, the primary target was a bus station, and in Jableh, the attacks were focused on a hospital, resulting in the reported killing of patients, visiting family members, doctors and nurses.

Noting that hospitals and medical personnel are specifically protected under international humanitarian law, the Commission stresses that attacks targeting protected locations or which fail to distinguish between civilian and military targets may amount to war crimes.

"It is essential that perpetrators of such crimes be held accountable," the Commission noted, adding that when the focus of international efforts is on finding a path to peace and reaffirming the cessation of hostilities, there must be greater efforts to ensure that civilians and civilian areas are protected, particularly from terrorist attacks.

The Commission of Inquiry on Syria was established by the UN Human Rights Council in August 2011 to investigate and record all violations of international human rights law and allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The Commission is also tasked to identify, where possible, those responsible for these violations with a view to ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.

The Commission of Inquiry on Syria is scheduled to present an oral update to the Human Rights Council in Geneva during an interactive dialogue at its 32nd session in June. Enditem