UN: Airstrikes on Raqqa Have Caused Heavy Civilian Casualties

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated on Thursday, September 9, that civilians caught in the battle for the city of Raqqa in Syria are paying an "unacceptable price" and that the attacking forces may have violated international law with their heavy airstrikes. The US-led international coalition, along with Syrian Democratic Forces on one side, and the Syrian army with Iranian-backed militias and Russian airstrikes on the other, have intensified their attacks to retake Raqqa from the group known as the "Islamic State." According to Reuters, the United Nations reports that approximately 20,000 civilians are trapped in Raqqa, with fighters using some of the population as human shields. Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that his office recorded the deaths of 151 civilians in August alone, attributed to airstrikes or ground assaults on the city. He expressed deep concern for civilians who, under any circumstances, should be protected but are paying a very heavy price, and that forces fighting against Islamic State fighters are losing focus on the ultimate goal of this battle. Al-Hussein further added that the attacking forces may not have adhered to international humanitarian law regarding precautions, distinction of attack targets, and proportionality of military force to the actual conditions of the battlefield. Reuters, citing the UN statement, noted that the US-led coalition announced it conducted about 1,100 airstrikes on Raqqa and its surroundings in August, compared to approximately 645 in July. Russia also conducted over 2,500 airstrikes across Syria during the first three weeks of August. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also mentioned that Islamic State fighters continue to prevent civilians from leaving the area. Some people have managed to escape war zones by paying large sums to smugglers, and reports have emerged indicating that smugglers have been publicly executed by the Islamic State. According to a spokesperson for the US-led coalition, on Wednesday, coalition fighters prevented a convoy of Islamic State fighters and their families from moving from the Syria-Lebanon border towards eastern Syria and attacked a group of fighters who were moving to assist them. In this context, Russia reported "major advances against ISIS" in central and eastern Syria. The UN called for a pause in attacks on the city of Raqqa to allow civilians to escape. ISIS has hindered the advance of Syrian soldiers in Raqqa province.