Ban condemns terrorist attacks killing dozens of civilians in two coastal Syrian cities

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the terrorist attacks today that claimed the lives of dozens of civilians in the Syrian coastal cities of Jableh and Tartous.

A statement attributable to his spokesperson said that the Secretary-General “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 said.

According to media reports, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) claimed responsibility for the attacks, in which more than 140 people were reportedly killed and many others wounded by at least five suicide bombers and two devices planted in cars.

In his statement, Mr. Ban also reiterated a call on all parties to the Syrian conflict to refrain from attacks on the civilian population, adding that those perpetrating such attacks must be held accountable for their crimes.

Reminding all parties to the cessation of hostilities of their duty to abide by its terms, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2268 (2016), the Secretary-General also called on 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).