Secretary-General, Condemning Deadly Terrorist Attacks in Syria, Reiterates Call on All Parties to Refrain from Attacking Civilians

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General condemns the terrorist attacks today that claimed the lives of dozens of civilians in the Syrian coastal cities of Jableh and Tartous.

The Secretary-General also takes note with great concern of the escalating military activity in many areas in and around Damascus.  The violence, particularly in Daraya, Aleppo and Idlib, and in the northern countryside of Homs, especially Al-Houla, is causing mounting civilian casualties.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all parties to the Syrian conflict to refrain from attacks on the civilian population.  Those perpetrating such attacks must be held accountable for their crimes.

The Secretary-General reminds all parties to the cessation of hostilities of their duty to abide by its terms, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2268 (2016).  He calls upon all Member States to take immediate, collective and decisive action to bring the tragedy unfolding in Syria to an end, in line with their commitments in accordance with Security Council resolutions 2254 (2015) and 2268 (2016).