At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday night, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the gathered diplomats he had received "credible reports" of Syrian government forces and allies slaughtering civilians in eastern Aleppo, where Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces, backed by regional militias and Russian air power, are close to capturing the part of the city held by opposition forces since 2012. Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar al-Ja'afari, denied the reports of mass killings but said his government has a "constitutional right" to attack opposition forces, adding, "Aleppo has been liberated from terrorists and those who toyed with terrorism."
Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., offered a stinging rebuke, telling "the Assad regime, Russia, and Iran — three member states behind the conquest of and carnage in Aleppo — you bear responsibility for these atrocities." This assault on humanity "will not end with Aleppo, and it will not focus on terrorists — it never has, and there is no evidence that it will," she said, dwelling on the word "terrorist," Assad's label for any opponent. "Clearly, young children — they must be terrorists because everybody being executed, everybody being barrel bombed, everybody who's been chlorine attacked, you're going to be told they are all terrorists — every last one of them, even the infants," she said. Power addressed Russia, Syria, and Iran:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Nigeria's worsening rate of maternal mortalityUnder the radar Economic crisis is making hospitals unaffordable, with women increasingly not receiving the care they need
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plantSpeed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
-
Israel proposes two-month pause in Gaza war in exchange for all Hamas hostagesSpeed Read Deal doesn't include an agreement to end war, but might be 'the only path that could lead to a ceasefire', said US officials
-
Nato official warns of all-out war with Russia in next 20 yearsSpeed Read Civilians must prepare for life-changing conflict and mass mobilisation, says military chief
-
Rishi Sunak visits Kyiv to announce £2.5 billion in military support for UkraineSpeed Read Surprise trip comes amid increased Russian bombardment and escalation of Middle East crisis
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Israel preparing to flood Hamas tunnels with seawaterSpeed Read IDF pumps could drive out terrorists but critics warn of danger to hostages and Gaza water supply
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
