The United Nations Security Council needs to impose an arms embargo on Syria as the government repeats air attacks on Douma’s popular markets and residential areas, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has argued.
A recent bombing by the Syrian Government in a busy marketplace in the town of Douma has killed at least 112 people, mostly civilians.
HRW Middle East deputy director Nadim Houry said: "Bombing a market full of shoppers and vendors in broad daylight shows the Syrian government’s appalling disregard for civilians.
"This latest carnage is another reminder, if any was still needed, of the urgent need for the Security Council to act on its previous resolutions and take steps to stop indiscriminate attacks."
The Syrian Air Force carried out four airstrikes continuously on the main street vendor markets in Douma, eastern Ghouta, which is an area under the control of opposition armed groups.
The witnesses said there were no military targets nearby the market and the nearest base or combatant front line was at least 2km away, HRW reported.
The air force conducted airstrikes again in a residential area in Douma on the same day, killing at least 30 people.
According to the Douma Local Council, the attacks on 16 August killed a total of 112 and injured 550 civilians as well as eight women.
The Violations Documentation Center in Syria (VDC) reported that the government’s aerial and shelling attacks killed at least 462 civilians and 16 fighters in eastern Ghouta between January and June.
Human Rights Watch argued that the Security Council should apply the same level of scrutiny it has put in place for chemical attacks to all indiscriminate attacks.
In addition, it should refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, HRW added.
