Introduction:
In light of the ongoing war and bloody conflicts that have ravaged Syria for years, the Syrian people face a harsh reality that cannot be ignored. Cities and towns witness daily tragic events that leave disastrous effects on the population, as innocent civilians are exposed to acts of violence and bombings that target them without mercy.
The world is forgetting the Syrian people, who face a harsh reality in light of the ongoing hostilities and unrest. At this time, Syrians live a life full of challenges and dangers. Between devastating explosions, indiscriminate bombing, and forced displacement, they live a bitter reality that poses a daily challenge to their survival and safety.
Those who pay the price are the innocent people who find themselves at the heart of conflicts. Their suffering is embodied in every explosion, in every incident of displacement, and in every tear shed on the ruins of the torn country.
Azaz explosion embodies Syria’s ongoing tragedy:
Every day that passes for the Syrian people, a new story of pain and tragedy is written in Syrian lands. In the harsh reality that the oppressed Syrian people are suffering from, a car bomb caused a heinous crime in the city of Azaz, in the northern countryside of Aleppo, on March 31, 2024, killing at least eight people, including children and a pregnant woman, and wounding many others.
The explosion that hit the main market in the city was horrific, as it left massive destruction in place among innocent civilians who were trying to go about their daily lives in safety and peace. This incident is not the first of its kind in Syria but rather is added to a long list of hostile actions targeting safe civilians and vital facilities, as targeting civilians without mercy or conscience clearly shows the horror of the reality that Syrians are living in today. Also in February, a motorcycle bomb exploded near the Newroz roundabout in the city of Afrin in the countryside of Aleppo, wounding 4 civilians, including a child.
These bloody incidents have dire consequences for safe civilians searching for stability and safety, and embody the difficult reality facing the Syrian people, who are still suffering from the effects of the devastating war that has destroyed the country and caused the displacement of millions of people and stifling human suffering.
A bitter reality and ongoing tragic events in northwestern Syria:
Tragic events continue in northwestern Syria as well, where Idlib Governorate is experiencing a bitter reality, and its safe residents are exposed to repeated attacks by Syrian regime forces. On Monday, April 1, 2024, rocket shelling on the city of Sarmin led to the death of two girls and a woman, and the injury of other civilians, some of whom were in serious condition.
Northern Syria is under the influence of repeated attacks, as residents do not know when the confrontations will intensify and their lives will become in imminent danger. In addition to human losses, the attacks leave devastating effects on infrastructure and public and private property, which increases the suffering of the population and adds burden to their shoulders.
In this context, the city of Sarmin is not an exception, but rather part of a larger tragedy experienced by all of Syria, where incidents of bombing, destruction, and death are repeated in various parts of the country. It should be noted that the use of suicide drones by the Syrian regime forces and its allies has become an increasing threat to the lives of innocent residents in northwestern Syria, as these drones have been used increasingly since the beginning of this year, resulting in civilian casualties and destruction of public and private property. .
Security chaos, liquidations, and assassinations in Daraa:
After a new wave of violence and tension in the city of Al-Sanamayn, north of Daraa, the movement of military forces in Daraa, specifically in the city of Al-Sanamayn, remains a focus of great importance in light of the continuing clashes and bloody tensions ravaging the region. Despite the escalation of violence and the high number of casualties, but the failure of any of the forces of the Eighth Brigade or the central committees to move towards the city aroused the dissatisfaction of the people and created a sharp criticism.
The clashes began on Sunday morning, the 7th of April, when an armed group affiliated with the so-called Mohsen Al-Haimed, who is linked to the Military Intelligence Division, launched an attack on the Al-Joura neighborhood, which is considered a stronghold for the group of Ahmed Jamal Al-Labbad, nicknamed “Al-Shabat” who is linked to the state security. These clashes resulted in significant losses of life and property. 19 people were killed and several homes were damaged. In addition, there were cases of field executions recorded against civilians because they were relatives of the Shabat group.
The tragic reality of this situation is evident in the heinous practices committed during these clashes, where many civilian families were deliberately attacked, kidnapped, and killed. While, in a provocative situation for many, all of this is taking place in front of checkpoints and headquarters belonging to the Syrian regime army, without any intervention to stop it. According to figures close to the Russian-backed Eighth Brigade, the regime’s officers, led by the military security official, Louay Al-Ali, have a goal for these clashes to occur to widen the scope of local and tribal disputes.
According to a previous report published by the Ahrar Houran Gathering, there were local accusations against the Eighth Brigade of not participating in confrontations with groups directly affiliated with the regime’s security services. It has been proven that these parties were involved in murders and kidnappings on behalf of these agencies, including the group of Muhammad Al-Rifai “Abu Ali al-Lahham,” linked to the Air Force Intelligence branch in the town of Umm Walad, and the group of Mohsen Al-Haymad, known for his relation with ISIS and the Military Intelligence Branch in the city of Al-Sanamayn.
An ongoing tragedy between killing, torture and violations:
Reports by the Syrian Network for Human Rights in February and March of this year recorded the killing of 180 civilians, including 18 children and 18 women. It recorded the death of 14 people due to torture. According to the network, at least 397 cases of arbitrary arrest, including 15 children and 10 women, were recorded by the parties to the conflict and the controlling forces in Syria in February and March, 321 of which turned into cases of enforced disappearance. 177 of them were by the Syrian regime forces, including a child and 5 women, and 123, including 14 children and 2 women, by the Syrian Democratic Forces.
According to the report, February witnessed at least 5 incidents of attacks on vital civilian centers, 3 of which were by the Syrian regime forces, and were concentrated in Idlib Governorate. Among these attacks, the report documented an attack on an educational facility and three on places of worship.
In addition to the continued foreign intervention and attacks from other countries on Syria and the resulting casualties among civilians, in light of a complex reality that Syrians live on a daily basis, starting with Jordan’s strikes in its war on drug traffickers in southern Syria, to Israel’s war with Iran over the territories. Syria, the most recent of which was the bombing of the Iranian consulate in the center of Damascus – which some European countries have now considered a safe city for the return of Syrians – to Turkey’s war against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its arms in northeastern Syria, in addition to the rapid increase in ISIS attacks in the Syrian desert, making Syria an arena. A dangerous and unsafe war for Syrians in all its parts.
In conclusion:
Although years have passed since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, the security situation has not witnessed a tangible improvement. On the contrary, military operations and attacks are still continuing horrifically, making the hope of achieving stability dissipate day after day. Instead of feeling safe and stable, the Syrian population lives in a state of fear and uncertainty, seeing every day as potentially bringing with it a new aggression or military escalation.
These violent conditions are a major reason why Syria is no longer a safe environment for civilians, as they face a constant threat to their lives and security. The repeated and diverse attacks reflect the inability of actors to provide adequate protection for civilians and ensure their safety, making daily life in Syria surrounded by dangers and constant threats.
This tragedy can only be stopped by working to find a comprehensive political solution in Syria in which the safe environment, as defined by the Syrians themselves, is the cornerstone that will ensure the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of displaced Syrians to their country.
