ISF – Aleppo: Public threats represent direct intimidation of civilians

The Media Center of the Internal Security Forces in Aleppo issued a statement on Thursday regarding the targeting of populated neighborhoods in Aleppo by mercenaries of the Syrian Interim Government, in which it warned:

"The repeated public threats of shelling issued by the so-called 'Operations Authority' of the Damascus factions, targeting civilian-populated areas in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafyieh neighborhoods of Aleppo, constitute direct intimidation of the civilian population and cannot be considered a legitimate security or military measure."

The statement made clear that these threats, according to international humanitarian law, constitute the forced displacement of civilians under threat of arms, which is classified as a war crime.

It also pointed out that the public declaration of a threat is a clear legal indication of criminal intent, and paves the way for the commission of grave violations, including willful killing, targeting civilians, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the imposition of collective punishment.

The statement affirmed that any harm inflicted on civilians, their property, or civilian infrastructure as a result of these threats will hold the Damascus government and its affiliates, as well as all those who issued, carried out, or condoned these threats, directly criminally responsible.

The statement concluded by emphasizing that "the threat of bombing is not merely a media statement, but a legal warning of potential crimes," and called upon the public and international human rights organizations to treat these threats as evidence of criminal intent, holding the party issuing and carrying out the threat fully responsible for any subsequent crimes.

J.J