Ceasefire called for

Syria is overwhelmed by a wave of violence

Since the start of the current conflict in the Gaza Strip, regional tensions have also spilled over into Syria.

(Bild: AP)

Syria is being overwhelmed by a wave of violence. "Since October, there has been the biggest escalation of fighting in four years," said Paulo Pinheiro, Chairman of the Syria Commission of Inquiry of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday.

The situation in Syria escalated again after an attack on a military academy left dozens dead at the beginning of October. According to the latest report by the Syria Commission, Syrian and allied Russian forces subsequently bombed at least 2,300 targets in areas controlled by the Syrian opposition. More than 500 civilians were killed or injured and around 120,000 people fled, it said. "It should come as no surprise to anyone that the number of Syrian asylum seekers in Europe reached its highest level in seven years last October," said Commissioner Hanny Megally.

Gaza conflict spills over
Since the beginning of the current conflict in the Gaza Strip, regional tensions have also spilled over into Syria. The report referred to Israeli attacks on targets with links to its arch-enemy Iran, and reciprocal attacks by pro-Iranian militias and US forces in Syria. In addition, there have been intensified Turkish military operations against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), battles between the SDF and tribal militias and an increase in attacks by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

The Syrian people cannot endure any further escalation of this devastating, ongoing war. Syria also urgently needs a ceasefire.

Paulo Pinheiro, Vorsitzender der Syrien-Untersuchungskommission des UNO-Menschenrechtsrates

In this complex conflict situation, war crimes are likely to have been committed against the civilian population, which is already suffering from widespread poverty and lawlessness. "The Syrian people cannot endure any further escalation of this devastating, ongoing war," said Pinheiro. "Syria also urgently needs a ceasefire," he demanded, referring to the talks on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Conflict has been smouldering since 2011 
The conflict in Syria began in spring 2011 with protests against the government of ruler Bashar Al-Assad. The government took violent action against them. Today, the country is divided. Assad now controls two thirds of the country again. The north-west is under the control of opposition forces. A political solution to the conflict is still not in sight.