Congressmen Boyle, Kinzinger Introduce Legislation to Condemn Syrian Hospital Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Rep. Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-13) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16), co-chairs of the Friends of a Free, Stable and Democratic Syria Caucus and members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a resolution condemning the intentional military targeting of hospitals and medical personnel in Syria, as recently profiled on CBS's 60 Minutes. The legislation, H.Res.632, condemns the attacks, calls on all parties to end the strikes, and calls on Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to work with the international community to conduct investigations into these violations of international humanitarian law. According to Physicians for Human Rights, 90% of these attacks have been carried out by the Assad regime and the Russian military.
"During the six years of the Syrian civil war, there have been more than 400 attacks on hospitals and more than 800 medical personnel have been killed," said Congressman Boyle. "This disturbing and blatant violation of international law must end. The United States must send a clear message to Assad and Putin that the international community is watching, and we will hold them accountable for the intentional targeting of vulnerable civilians and those helping the sick and wounded. Representative Kinzinger and I will continue to stand up for the core tenants of humanitarian law and civilian protections worldwide."
"The brutality of the Assad regime knows no bounds as it continues to launch airstrikes, barrel bombs, and chemical weapons on innocent men, women, and children. Furthermore, Assad has committed the original war crime – attacking hospitals – time and time again," said Congressman Kinzinger. "We must stand with groups like the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), who provide aid to the thousands of wounded Syrians. Dr. Samer Attar is a member of SAMS, and a Chicagoan. He reached out to me back in September 2016 to share with me the severity of the attacks on medical facilities. And sadly, these attacks continue. I'm proud to stand with my colleague Congressman Boyle to wholeheartedly condemn these attacks on hospitals by the Assad regime, and its Russian and Iranian backers, and the countless crimes against humanity in this genocide on the Syrian people."
In July, the Friends of a Free, Stable and Democratic Syria Caucus met with the Syria Civil Defense, better known as the "White Helmets," a group of unarmed volunteers who risk life and limb to carry out daring search-and-rescue missions in the wake of bombings in Syria. The group discussed the intentional targeting of emergency medical and rescue workers such as the White Helmets by Assad and Russia. Over 190 White Helmets volunteers have been killed during the Syrian conflict. Despite the danger, the White Helmets have saved over 99,000 lives.
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Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) with two members of the Syrian Civil Defense ("White Helmets") in September 2017.