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It has been suggested that this article be merged with Battle of Aleppo (2012–16). (Discuss) Proposed since December 2016.

Aleppo massacre
Part of the Syrian Civil War
Location	Neighborhoods of Bustan al-Qasr, Al-Firdous, Kallaseh and Al Saleheen, Aleppo, Syria
Date	12 December 2016
Deaths	At least 82
Perpetrators	Syrian Arab Army File:Nujabaimage.jpg Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba

The Aleppo Massacre was committed during the Syrian Civil War by pro-Assad Syrian government forces as well as pro-government Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitaries after the capture of Eastern Aleppo from Syrian rebels. At least 82 people were killed including 11 women and 13 children.

Background

Eastern Aleppo was captured by Syrian rebels in July 2012. After the Russian intervention, Syrian Army and allies were able to surround and besiege Eastern Aleppo. While airstrikes and indiscriminant barrel bombs had continued to fall on the rebel-held half of the city for years, hundreds of thousands of civilians had remained in their homes there.

After a six-month siege and a "catastrophic" Syrian and Russian aerial bombardment campaign, in which allegedly "thousands" of civilians were killed and the main hospitals were put out of service, Eastern Aleppo was recaptured by the Syrian Army in December 2016.

Massacre

After the capture of East Aleppo by the Syrian army, the United Nations said it received "credible reports" that forces loyal to government were "gunning down civilians" and killing residents in their homes in four different neighborhoods in Aleppo city

Amnesty International has described the killings as war crimes and stated "Amnesty International has previously highlighted the Syrian government’s widespread and systematic use of enforced disappearance to attack the civilian population in what has amounted to crimes against humanity. It is crucial that independent monitors are deployed to prevent further enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment". The deputy director for research for Amnesty International in Beirut also said: "the reports that civilians - including children - are being massacred in cold blood in their homes by Syrian government forces are deeply shocking but not unexpected given their conduct to date. Such extrajudicial executions would amount to war crimes."

Reactions

•  United Nations - Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, decried "the crushing of Aleppo, the immeasurably terrifying toll on its people, the bloodshed, the wanton slaughter of men, women and children, the destruction." He also said the slaughter could repeat itself in the currently rebel-held cities of Douma and Idlib.
•  United Nations - Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the United Nations office coordinating emergency relief, called the events “a complete meltdown of humanity.”
•  Syria - Brigadier General Samir Suleiman said: "These are false claims. The Arab Syrian army can never do this and we have never done it in our army's history."

See also

• List of massacres in Syria
• Wartime sexual violence

References

1. ^ Reuters, 13 December 2016, Syrian army, Iraqi militia accused of 'slaughter' of terrorists in Aleppo
2. ^ New York Times, 13 December 2016, ‘A Complete Meltdown of Humanity’: Aleppo Civilians Reported Killed as They Flee
3. "Aleppo battle: UN says civilians shot on the spot". BBC News. 13 December 2016.
4. ^ "Syria: Aleppo terror and slaughter must be halted – Zeid". Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
5. The Guardian, 27 July 2012, Syria crisis: US fears Aleppo 'massacre' - Friday 27 July 2012
6. Aljazeera, 24 February 2015, HRW: Use of barrel bombs increasing in Syria
7. Democracy Now, 23 November 2016, 'Nothing Short of a Slaughter': 1 Million Syrians in Aleppo Under Siege with No Hospital, Food
8. The Guardian, 28 September 2016, Two Aleppo hospitals bombed out of service in 'catastrophic' airstrikes
9. BBC, 2 October 2016, Syria conflict: Aleppo bombing shuts largest hospital
10. The Guardian, 29 September 2016, Sectarian fighters mass for battle to capture east Aleppo
11. "'It is past time for you to act' to end carnage in Aleppo, UN chief tells emergency Security Council session". UN News Center. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
13. ^ Democracy Now, 13 December 2016, Women in Aleppo Choose Suicide Over Rape, Rebels Report

• Articles to be merged from December 2016
• Massacres of the Syrian Civil War in 2016
• Aleppo Governorate in the Syrian Civil War