Indonesia concerned over Syrian crisis, calls for civilians' protection

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) – Jakarta on Sunday expressed deep concern about the ongoing developments in Syria following the 61-year rule of the Ba'ath Party, which ended with the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

“Indonesia is closely monitoring developments in Syria and is deeply concerned about their impact on regional security and the resulting humanitarian consequences," the country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“The crisis in Syria can only be resolved through an inclusive, democratic, and peaceful transition that prioritizes the interests and safety of the Syrian people while safeguarding Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity," the statement added.

It also urged all parties involved to protect civilians in accordance with international law, specifically International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.

After a period of relative calm, clashes between Assad regime forces and anti-regime groups reignited on Nov. 27 in rural areas west of Aleppo, a major city in northern Syria.

Over 10 days, opposition forces launched a lightning offensive, capturing key cities and then, on Sunday, the capital, Damascus. The rapid advance, supported by defecting military units, led to the collapse of the Assad regime after 13 years of civil war.