Syrian American Council Calls for Accountability on Fifth Anniversary of Russian Involvement in Syria

Five years of Russian intervention has brought devastation and suffering to Syria

WASHINGTON D.C., October 1, 2020 – This week marks a somber anniversary for the Syrian people. Five years ago this week, Russia entered the war in Syria to prop up a brutal dictator by bombing the besieged community of Talbiseh in northern Homs, killing 33 civilians. In the resulting years, Russia has formed the pillars of its strategy in Syria, using the pretense of fighting the Islamic State to counter threats to the rule of Bashar- al Assad and bomb civilians in areas controlled by the Free Syrian Army and other opposition groups. The Syrian American Council reiterates calls for the Assad regime to be removed, and for Russia and Iran to withdraw their forces from the country and to return the natural resources and property rights they have pillaged to the Syrian people.

“Since the first deadly attacks, Russian military actions in Syria have killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions, and destroyed countless homes, hospitals, and schools. Furthermore, Russia has used its clout at the United Nations to gridlock the Security Council and prevent the international community from taking action to save lives and has used its leverage over Assad to secure control of critical petroleum resources, ensuring that the Syrian people will face repression and impoverishment for decades to come,” said Dr. Zaki Lababidi, president of the Syrian American Council. “It is time for Russia’s occupation of Syria to end and for a peaceful transition of power to take place under the aspects of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.”

The Syrian American Council welcomes the steps taken yesterday by the U.S. Treasury, which placed new sanctions designations on Assad’s military and financial enablers, and calls on all international actors to continue to take steps like these towards justice and accountability in Syria.