On Sunday 9 March, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Hadja Lahbib, called for a full investigation into the violence against civilians in north-eastern Syria.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), 973 civilians have been killed since 6 March by Syrian security forces and allied groups in the west of the country.
“The news of hundreds of casualties in north-west Syria is deeply alarming. The EU calls for a swift end to violence and full investigation. The independent commission launched (last Sunday) is an essential step”, stressed Ms Lahbib on X. She reiterated that after 14 years of conflict, the Syrian people deserved a peaceful and inclusive transition, and that Syria must not descend into another civil war.
On Monday 10 March, Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS), said that the “perpetrators (of these murders) need to be brought to justice”. Asked who was responsible, Ms Hipper explained that the facts had to be established, pointing out that there was a lot of disinformation. “This is also why we support the commission of inquiry established by the authorities, and we expect to see the results of that”, she added.
In a statement on Saturday, the EEAS spokesman strongly condemned all violence against civilians, who “have to be protected in all circumstances in full respect of international humanitarian law”.
Brussels will host the ninth conference on Syria on Monday 17 March. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)