The U.S. Condemns Deadly Attack on Volunteer Rescuers in Syria

The U.S. State Department says reports of the "brutal murder" of seven members of the civil defense, who are voluntarily engaged in relief work in Syria, are "horrific and tragic." Heather Nauert, the spokesperson for the State Department, condemned the deadly attack on the rescuers on August 13, describing it as a "cowardly act by masked men" against these volunteers. The State Department also praised the rescuers who are "tirelessly helping people to save their lives in extremely dangerous conditions." The reputation of the "Syrian Civil Defense" group, also known as the "White Helmets," has extended beyond Syria in recent years. Since 2013, they have been assisting victims and the wounded from air and missile attacks during the Syrian civil war. According to official sources, seven members of the "Civil Defense" were targeted on August 12 in Sarmin, a residential area in Idlib. The identity of the assailants who opened fire on the rescuers is currently unknown. Reports indicate that all seven were killed by gunfire to the head. The "Civil Defense" has reported that two minibuses and other equipment were also stolen from the site. Over the years, dozens of volunteer rescuers in crisis-hit areas have lost their lives during the Syrian civil war. The "Syrian Civil Defense" receives financial support from several governments, including Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the U.S. The Syrian civil war, which has been ongoing for more than six years, has left between at least 370,000 to nearly half a million casualties and displaced half of the country's population.