The Right Defense Initiative is following with grave concern the ongoing military escalation in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighborhoods of Aleppo city, and the accompanying rapid deterioration of conditions for civilians. This is occurring amid initial reports of casualties and dozens of injuries, with the effects of shelling extending to adjacent neighborhoods due to the exchange of fire within populated residential areas.
Based on available field data and local testimonies, this escalation has involved the use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas. This includes documented deployments of tanks and military vehicles by the Syrian army around the two neighborhoods, as well as observed heavy artillery shelling. This has resulted in human and material damage and has heightened the risks of forced displacement and the disruption of essential services. Information has also been received regarding the involvement of armed factions, some of which are reportedly subject to international sanctions, further multiplying concerns about the expansion of violations and the difficulty of achieving accountability.
This escalation follows the official announcement issued by the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Interim Government, which designated the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighborhoods as “military zones.” This classification threatens to widen the scope of targeting and is feared to be used as a pretext for taking measures that violate the lives and property of civilians, especially given the two neighborhoods’ history of previous waves of violence and displacement.
These risks take on an even more serious humanitarian dimension due to the presence of a large number of individuals forcibly displaced from Afrin city among the residents of the two neighborhoods. These individuals were previously displaced from their homes, which were seized and are currently occupied by elements of factions integrated into the Syrian Army. This places IDPs at a real risk of double forced displacement, potentially losing their shelter once again due to the ongoing hostilities.
RDI affirms that the protection of civilians is not a political option but a legal obligation. Targeting populated areas, using heavy weapons in dense urban environments, or carrying out acts that may amount to indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks constitutes a breach of the principles of International Humanitarian Law, particularly the principles of distinction, proportionality, and the obligation to take all feasible precautions to spare civilians from the dangers of hostilities.
The Rights Defense Initiative also reminds that this escalation is occurring despite the existence of an agreement announced at the beginning of April between the Syrian government and the councils of the two neighborhoods. The agreement included specific commitments, among them:
Establishing joint barriers/checkpoints between the parties.
Releasing detainees/prisoners.
Lifting movement restrictions and ending the blockade.
Refraining from introducing or using heavy weapons within the neighborhoods.
However, the facts on the ground, as observed so far, point to a clear breach of these commitments. This undermines the prospects for de-escalation and stability and increases the likelihood of civilians being subjected to grave violations, including killing, displacement, and property destruction.
Accordingly, the Rights Defense Initiative demands the following:
- An immediate cessation of escalation and an end to the use of heavy weapons within residential neighborhoods and their surroundings, along with the taking of concrete measures to protect civilians.
- Implementation of the agreement signed at the beginning of April and a return to a clear, executable path for its provisions, particularly those related to freedom of movement, ending any blockade, and releasing detainees.
- Guaranteeing unimpeded access to services and medical care and protecting civilian objects from being targeted.
- Opening an independent and transparent investigation into allegations of civilian casualties and damage resulting from shelling and the use of heavy weapons, and holding those responsible accountable through due legal process, while ensuring the victims’ right to remedy and reparations.
- Allowing human rights and humanitarian monitoring and enabling humanitarian organizations to access the area to assess needs and deliver assistance without discrimination.
RDI reiterates its call to all parties to adhere to the rules of International Humanitarian Law, to prioritize the safety of civilians, and to avoid turning residential neighborhoods into battlefields whose price is paid by the inhabitants. It further calls for an end to any displacement operations under the pretext of establishing military zones within residential areas, and urges giving precedence to reason and dialogue to resolve problems.