Aleppo carnage may spur Syria crisis resolution

Syrian troops reclaimed rebel-held east Aleppo. The residents anxious to return to their homes entered into the war-ravaged city after the regime’s announcement of full control of the city.
Assad army recaptured the former rebel stronghold after a landmark evacuation deal that saw thousands of opposition fighters and residents bussed out.
The evacuation operation ended more than four years of fierce fighting in Aleppo, which had been divided between government forces in the west and rebels in the east since 2012. Fall of Aleppo to regime is the biggest victory for Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. It has been hailed as ‘very important’ step by Russia—one of Assad key backers—which carried out military campaign supporting Syrian regime.
Opposition forces still control an area west of Aleppo and at least six civilians were killed in the first rebel rocket fire on the city since it fell under government control, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The evacuation agreement was brokered by rebel backer Turkey and regime supporter Russia. The Syrian army’s win in Aleppo has put the spotlight on the role of powerbrokers Russia, Iran and Turkey. It has also raised questions over the ability of international community as repeated attempts at peace by UN envoy Staffan de Mistura failed.
Mistura had warned that regime’s indiscriminate bombings would totally destroy Aleppo by Christmas unless the United Nations acted fast to stop the carnage. Aleppo madness elicited global outcry as Syrian forces, backed by Russia, tightened their grip on the city. But little action was seen at the United Nations.
Two Russian vetos at the Security Council blocked attempts to halt the bombing and spare civilians. And UN statements professing that there can be no military solution to the devastating five-year war rang hollow.
With the fall of Aleppo, the world body founded on the post-World War II promise of ‘Never Again’ is once again facing questions about its ability to confront conflicts.
Diplomats accused Russia of providing diplomatic cover while its Syrian ally waged an all-out assault on Aleppo. But there are also recriminations against Western powers, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the broader UN system. The world body failed to bring humanitarian aid to one million Syrians under siege.
Ban said divisions among world powers, regional players and among Syrians themselves had created a ‘perfect storm’ that allowed the war to rage on, killing more than 310,000 people. “If there is any criticism, I am ready to accept this,” he said. “But sometimes, a situation just develops beyond my control, beyond the control of the United Nations.”
After nearly six years of conflict, there is no international investigation under way of war crimes in Syria after Russia, backed by China, used its veto in 2014 to block a request to the International Criminal Court.
Alarmed by reports that Syrian militias had executed dozens of civilians in east Aleppo, France, Britain and the United States called for observers to be dispatched to monitor the situation on the ground.
Syrians in Aleppo have suffered the worst atrocities in decades. Mindless killings of innocent people, including thousands of children, and summary killings carried out by regime forces and Shiite militias, amount to genocide. Aleppo is synonymous with Srebrenica and Rwanda.
No UN sanctions have been imposed on those deemed responsible for the bloodshed. It is high time to ‘stop the nonsense’ in Syria.