DEADLY STRIKES IN IDLIB AMOUNT TO WAR CRIMES: UN

SYRIA

GENEVA Syrian and Russian planes have carried out deadly aerial strikes on schools, hospitals and markets in Idlib province that amount to war crimes, United Nations’ investigators said on Tuesday in a report that also condemned attacks by Islamist militants.

They said that “indiscriminate bombardment” by pro-government forces, ahead of a March ceasefire brokered with Turkey, claimed hundreds of lives and forced 1 million civilians to flee, which may amount to a crime against humanity.

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria also accused Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist group that controls part of northwest Syria, of firing artillery into civilian areas “with no apparent legitimate military objective.” Fighters from HTS, a group formerly known as Nusra Front, have tortured and executed detainees, it added.

“All sides likely committed war crimes,” said Paulo Pinheiro, pictured, chairman of the UN panel.