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Douma massacre (2015)

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"Douma massacre" redirects here. For the 2018 Douma massacre, see2018 Douma chemical attack.
2015 Douma massacre
Part ofSyrian Civil War
LocationDouma, Syria
Coordinates33°34′20.15″N36°24′06.52″E/ 33.5722639°N 36.4018111°E/33.5722639; 36.4018111
Date16 August 2015(2015-08-16)
TargetCivilians[1][2][3]
Attack type
Airstrike
WeaponsMissiles,Barrel bombs[4]
Deaths96+[2]
Injured200+[2][3][4]
PerpetratorSyrian Air Force[2][3]

On August 16, 2015, theSyrian Air Force[5]launched strikes on therebel-held city ofDouma,northeast ofDamascus,killing at least 96 people and injuring at least 200 others.[2][6][7]It was one of the deadliest attacks to have occurred during theSyrian Civil War.[3]

The bombing[edit]

According to theSyrian Observatory for Human Rights,four separate missiles were fired in the strikes, which struck the main market in the town during rush hour.[3]Initial airstrikes were reportedly followed shortly afterwards bysurface-to-surface missileswhich hit people who had rushed to the scene to help.[8]

I entered the market and the corpses were scattered everywhere, human remains thrown on the produce and vegetables, and under every box of tomatoes was a corpse or part of a corpse.

— Bassam al-Hakeem, a Douma-based photographer[9]

The bodies of sixty of themassacrevictims were buried in two mass graves on the night of August 16.[10]

Reactions[edit]

Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described the air strikes as "an official massacre that was carried out deliberately."[3]A Syrian military source toldReutersthat the country's air force had carried out strikes in Douma andHarastathat targeted the headquarters of the rebel groupJaysh al-Islam.[1]

TheTurkey-basedSyrian political oppositiongroup, theNational Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces,said the attack aimed at inflicting as many civilian casualties as possible.[2]

Stephen O'Brien,theUnited Nations' most senior humanitarian official, said he was horrified by the attacks and reiterated that "attacks on civilians are unlawful, unacceptable and must stop."[11]Jeffrey Feltman,theUN political chief,told theU.N. Security Councilthat Sunday's attack "would be yet one more war crime for which those responsible must be held accountable."[12]United Nations envoyStaffan de Misturacalled the attacks "unacceptable", to which Syria responded by accusing him of "stray[ing] from neutrality".[13]

The massacre was also condemned byBritain,France,GermanyandQatar.[14]

Official Statements[edit]

  • Qatar– The QatariMinistry of Foreign affairssaid in a statement "that the Assad regime's continuation to commit crimes against innocent civilians in flagrant defiance of human conscience andinternational lawincreases the complexity of the Syrian crisis, and puts significant obstacles to reaching a political solution to the crisis. It also impedes the international efforts to achieve political transition based on Geneva statement of June 30, 2012. "[14]
  • United Nations– Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UNHigh Commissioner for Human Rights,said in a press release that the attacks "may amount to awar crimefor which individuals can be held criminally responsible. "[15]
  • United States– The attacks were also condemned by theState Department of the United States,which issued a press release stating that the attacks "demonstrate the [Assad] regime’s disregard for human life."[16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abHubbard, Ben (17 August 2015)."Government Airstrikes on Syrian Market Kill More Than 80".New York Times.Retrieved16 August2015.
  2. ^abcdef"Death toll in Syria air strike nears 100: activists".Reuters.17 August 2015.
  3. ^abcdefAP (16 August 2015)."An" official massacre "of civilians alleged in Syria".CBS News.Retrieved16 August2015.
  4. ^ab"Massacre as Syrian Barrel Bombs Kill at Least 82 - Middle East - News - Arutz Sheva".Arutz Sheva.16 August 2015.
  5. ^"Syrian air force hits crowded market near Damascus, kills and injures hundreds".ARA News.Archived fromthe originalon August 17, 2015.
  6. ^Cassandra Vinograd."Syria's Civil War: Douma Airstrike Toll Nears 100".NBC News.
  7. ^"Syrian government air strikes on market kill at least 82 people".The Guardian.Associated Press. 16 August 2015.Retrieved16 August2015.
  8. ^"Syrian regime attacks on Douma 'may amount to a war crime': UN".Al Bawaba.Retrieved19 August2015.
  9. ^Martin Chulov (17 August 2015)."UN condemns Syria market attack as witnesses tell of 'corpses everywhere'".the Guardian.Retrieved19 August2015.
  10. ^"Syrian army bombards Douma as air raid toll rises: monitor".Reuters.17 August 2015.Retrieved22 August2015.
  11. ^Chulov, Martin (17 August 2015)."UN condemns Syria market attack as witnesses tell of 'corpses everywhere'".The Guardian.Retrieved17 August2015.
  12. ^"Syria's attack on Douma a war crime, UN political chief says - StarTribune.com".Star Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved19 August2015.
  13. ^AFP (18 August 2015)."Syria blasts UN envoy for criticism of Douma airstrikes".Times of Israel.Retrieved22 August2015.
  14. ^ab"International Condemnation of Douma Massacre".Syrian National Coalition Of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces.18 August 2015.
  15. ^"Press briefing notes on Libya, Syria and Yemen".Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.Retrieved19 August2015.
  16. ^"Market Bombing in Douma, Syria".State Department.17 August 2015.Retrieved17 August2015.
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