The Mission has called for an investigation to “ensure accountability, prevent recurrence and uphold victims’ rights”, noting that international law obliges military forces to take necessary precautions to prevent civilian harm, including distinguishing between civilians and combatants in operations.
Families return to Syria from Türkiye at the Bab al-Hawa crossing.
Syria: Refugee returns continue
According to media reports, Hayat-Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de facto authorities in Syria have named Anas Khattab as head of the intelligence services. Mr. Khattab is currently subject to UN sanctions, as a result of his association with Al Qaida.
HTS is also sanctioned by the UN, following a 2015 resolution which calls on Member States to “prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by” HTS’s predecessor, the Al-Nusra Front”.
The devastating, long-running civil war in Syria caused millions to flee the country: since the fall of Bashar al-Assad on 8 December, thousands of refugees have begun to return, Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, has reported that, whilst food is in short supply in some areas of the country, bread production and distribution have generally normalized.
The World Food Programme (WFP) noted on Thursday that it has more access routes to areas across the country that were inaccessible under the Assad regime, access that will contribute to saving the lives of millions of Syrians.