Amnesty International (Amnesty) has accused the Syrian regime and Russian forces of targeting medical and educational facilities over the past year, in northwestern Syria, warning it amounts to "war crimes".
With the support of Russia, regime forces launched several military campaigns against the Idlib governorate and its surroundings since last year, where nearly three million people reside in opposition-held areas.
In a report published today, the human rights organization documented 18 attacks on medical facilities and schools by the forces of the regime or its ally Moscow between the period 5 May 2019 to 25 February 2020.
She explained that "the evidence shows that the attacks documented by the Syrian government forces The Russians as a whole involve countless serious violations of international humanitarian law, "asserting that they" amount to war crimes. "
Three attacks were carried out with ground bombs and two with barrel bombs dropped by regime's helicopters, in addition to Syrian and Russian raids. Most took place in the first two months of this year during the last attack, which Damascus began with Russian support in December, and forced about a million people from their homes.
A ceasefire has been in effect since March 6 in and around Idlib, but hundreds of thousands of displaced people are still outside their homes and are largely dependent on aid for their livelihood, amid fears of an outbreak of the Corona virus emerging between them, especially in overcrowded camps.
"The recent attack included an abhorrent pattern of widespread and systematic attacks aimed at intimidating civilians," said Heba Morayef, regional director of Amnesty International.
"Russia continued to provide invaluable military support, including carrying out direct unlawful airstrikes, despite evidence that it is facilitating the Syrian army to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity," she added.
Among the attacks, the organization documented Russian strikes near a hospital in Jericho on January 29, which destroyed at least two residential buildings and killed 11 civilians.
It also reported documenting an attack by regime forces using internationally prohibited cluster bombs on a school in the city of Idlib on February 25, killing three people.
The Amnesty report is based on interviews with more than 70 people, including eyewitnesses, displaced persons, doctors, teachers, humanitarian workers and United Nations staff.