Washington, D.C. – Leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX), jointly issued the following statement condemning Russia and the Syrian regime’s deadly attacks on civilians in Idlib, and called on Putin and Assad to end their brutal assault. Idlib is sheltering millions of Syrians who have fled the nation’s civil war. These latest attacks by Putin and Assad have targeted public facilities including hospitals and have taken the lives of nearly 100 civilians in recent weeks. Attacks have also been carried out on humanitarian workers attempting to reach civilians with injuries.  

“We are disgusted as Putin and Assad conspire to target and kill innocent children and families. They must end their inhumane assault on civilians immediately. We are also alarmed by UN estimates that more than 150,000 Syrians have been displaced as a result of the offensive during the first week of May alone. The Syrian regime and Russian military offensive threatens to push an already tragic humanitarian crisis closer to the brink of catastrophe,” said Engel and McCaul. “We call on Putin’s and Assad’s forces to stand down and allow humanitarian workers to aid those who have fallen victim to their injustice. Russia and the Syrian regime have made commitments not to undertake large scale military offensives. They must abide by their international obligations and return to de-escalation.”

###