US strongly condemns killing of civilians in Syria

The United States strongly condemned recent killings of Syrian civilians in the Qalamoun region and elsewhere, reiterating that those responsible "must be held accountable." State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf, in a statement late on Thursday, said, "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent massacres of Syrian civilians in the Qalamoun region and elsewhere," noting "we also condemn the latest report of a massacre of civilians in Adra." She added "we are outraged at the alarming reports, including reports of invasive house raids, kidnappings and extrajudicial killings." "As we strongly condemn these atrocities against the civilian population, we also reinforce our solidarity with the Syrian people," she stressed. She affirmed that "direct attacks on civilians not taking part in hostilities breach the most basic principles of dignity and freedom from oppression that have characterized the Syrian peoples struggle." "We have long said that those responsible for perpetrating atrocities in Syria, especially the latest vicious violence against innocent civilians, must be held accountable," she remarked. She noted "we remain committed to help ensure those responsible for these atrocities are held accountable" "It is particularly troubling to us that these atrocities have been committed in many areas where the regime has denied humanitarian access to suffering Syrians," she stressed. Harf reiterated U.S. calls "for the Syrian Government and other parties to the conflict to facilitate humanitarian access to all those in need and to work to end the needless suffering of the Syrian people."