Projectile event in Aleppo, Darat Ezza area, Syrian Arab Republic on Sun 31st December 2023

On December 30, 2023, Syrian regime artillery forces fired multiple shells at Darat Ezza city in western rural Aleppo governorate. One of the shells hit an educational facility housing al-Nahda High School for Boys and Khadija al-Kubra School for girls, partially destroying the building and moderately damaging its interior furnishings. The area is under the control of armed opposition factions and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that through this attack, Syrian regime forces have again unequivocally violated UN Security Council resolutions 2139 & 2254, both of which categorically prohibit indiscriminate attacks, as well as violating the rules of international humanitarian law on distinguishing between civilians and fighters. Such attacks aim solely to spread fear and panic among civilians, to drive them from their lands and homes, and to forcibly displace them. An estimated 6.5 million people are currently internally displaced in Syria.

The international community must put pressure on the Syrian regime and its allies to support a process of political transition. Pressure should be applied on all parties to compel them to launch such a transition within a period of no more than six months, so that millions of displaced people can have a safe and stable return.