The US-led coalition against the IS in Syria has killed 865 people since the start of the airstrikes in late Septem ber, at least 50 of them civilians, a new report from the UN chief reveals.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that the strikes alone cannot defeat the militant group and cited estimates of civilian casualties caused by the bombing, the RT reported.
“The international coalition continued airstrikes against ISIL in Syria on a near-daily basis with reports of some 865 people killed, including 50 civilians, in Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakeh, Idlib and Raqqa since strikes began,” the report said.
Meanwhile, the “armed opposition and designated terrorist groups continue shelling government-controlled areas, including in civilian-populated areas... including in Damascus, Homs, Hama and Quneitra,” according to the report.
Ban warned that “a military campaign alone [against the IS] could lead to further radicalization and spark a cycle of renewed violence,” adding that the IS intensified its recruitment efforts inside and outside of Syria.
Following the report, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos told the Security Council that an estimated of 12.2 million people need assistance in Syria – a rise from 10.8 million in July. At the same time, Amos said that aid coming in from Turkey and Jordan is making a difference and called on the UNSC to extend the authorization that expires on January 9.
Critics of the US-led bombing warfare against IS in Iraq and Syria have asserted that not only is this tactic ineffective – it also encourages more people to join radical groups.
