Just one week ago, President Obama confirmed that the U.S. would not apply the principle of “near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured” in its operations in Iraq and Syria, given that they are areas of “active hostilities.”  This news came with reports of dozens of civilian deaths in Syria following a U.S. airstrike in Kafr Daryan.  Bearing in mind that military action is bound by the principles of distinction, proportionality and necessity, the United States has a clear obligation to prevent civilian deaths, even in its crucial operations in Iraq and Syria.

Failing to take adequate measures to prevent civilian deaths not only violates international humanitarian law, but also runs counter to the stated strategy to degrade and destroy the Islamic State. Civilian casualties have already caused popular Syrian discontent with American bombings in the country and caused Syrian resentment toward moderate armed opposition groups the White House plans to train and equip. Several Syrian commanders of such groups have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the air strikes and the high civilian casualties that the strikes have caused. Ultimately, civilian deaths caused by U.S. bombing only strengthens support for the Islamic State and other violent extremist groups as they seek to portray the United States and its allies as the enemy of the Syrian people.

Acknowledging that information both from US military and groups on the ground is often difficult to verify, STAND would like to echo the questions of the letter drafted by The Prevention and Protection Working Group and addressed to President Obama:

• What special precautions is the U.S. taking to protect civilians endangered by U.S. military operations?

• What steps are being taken not to harm health facilities, medical personnel, or other first responders, and to avoid further damage to systems and infrastructure that support necessary services including water and food?

• What are the diplomatic strategies that the U.S. government is pursuing both with Iraqi tribal leaders in Sunni majority areas vulnerable to IS recruitment efforts as well as with partners like Turkey and Qatar, and civil society leaders and organizations? How is the U.S. engaging diplomatically with these same internal and external actors to peel away and present viable nonviolent alternatives to those who have joined IS?

• Underscoring the need for long-term solutions and recognizing that airstrikes are incapable of reaching a successful resolution to the crisis, how is the U.S. government engaging in peacebuilding and development in the short term and beyond to support a successful transition out of cycles of violence?

• What is the U.S. doing to investigate reports of civilians being killed and any allegations of violations of international humanitarian law on the part of U.S. armed forces or that of U.S. partners, including the September 23 incident in the village of Kafr Daryan?

Syrian civilians are already feeling the effects of United States airstrikes.  Many have been forced to flee, and those who have not face dire humanitarian crises ahead.  Furthermore, in Iraq civilians face conditions that the UN claims may amount to serious human rights violations and war crimes.  In light of these conditions, we urge the United States to be vigilant in protecting civilians in Iraq and Syria.

In Solidarity,

STAND: the Student-led Movement to End Mass Atrocities

The humanitarian situation in Syria has been deteriorating rapidly. The United Nations is unable to provide food for about one million people and rain and cold are further deteriorating living conditions, leading to a riot in a refugee camp in Jordan on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Palestinian factions fighting in support of the Syrian regime against rebel forces in the Yarmouk district south of Damascus called for a cease-fire on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the Assad regime freed 2,130 captives to rebels in exchange for 48 Iranian prisoners. The rebels claim that this proves Assad is an Iranian puppet. The rebels claim the Iranian prisoners are Iranian Revolutionary Guards sent to assist the Assad regime, while the Iranian government insists that they were in Syria for a private visit.

Burma

Fighting in Burma’s northern Kachin State between government forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has continued following government air strikes on Kachin-controlled areas. Originally denying any attacks, the Myanmar government later acknowledged them, claiming they were attempting to recapture supply convoys that were taken by Kachin rebels in late December. Government forces were sending supplies to a base situated near KIA headquarters in the town of Laiza, triggering seizure by KIA forces. New to this conflict, the use of airstrikes have been reported almost every day (here and here) since December 28, with both ground and air strikes becoming increasingly intense around the KIA headquarters at Laiza. An estimated 100,000 people have been displaced since fighting began following the break of a 17-year ceasefire during the summer of 2011. Click here to see a video report from Al Jazeera outlining the recent violence.

In other news, Indonesia is set to give $1 million towards humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya in Burma’s Rakhine State following recent communal violence. Also, Coca-Cola recently announced it will build its first factory in Burma.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

On Tuesday, the M23 rebels declared a unilateral ceasefire and are awaiting a similar declaration by the DRC government. This week, dialogue will continue in Kampala, reviewing the March 23, 2009 agreement, security issues, social, economic, and political matters, and mechanisms for implementing various resolutions. It is unclear whether or not the DRC government will sign on, and, to complicate matters, the Ugandan Independent reported today that two journalists were recently detained and beaten by security forces. The immediate reasons have not been uncovered, although the radio station targeted has in the past issued reports critical of the Congolese military.

Also on Tuesday, reports surfaced that the UN is planning the first deployment of drones in peacekeeping missions. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) reportedly asked the UN Security Council to support the use of three unarmed surveillance drones for its operation in the DRC, where they would monitor clashes between the DRC army and M23 rebels. France, the US, and Britain have supported this plan, though Russia, China, and Rwanda have warned about the financial and legal implications and are concerned that drone use may aid western countries’ intelligence gathering.

A Neutral International Force in eastern DRC may soon be deployed. It may either be an attachment to MONUSCO or an independent mission of the African Union (AU), the International Conference (ICGLR) on the Great Lakes Region, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Talks will continue at the AU ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa this week; for more information, see BDLive’s article here.