Syria Caucus to Trump: Save Idlib
Chairman Engel, Ranking Member McCaul Join Syria Caucus Co-Chairs in Bipartisan Effort to Stop Civilian Assault
May 16, 2019
Washington, DC — Today, Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Co-Chairs of the Friends of a Free, Stable and Democratic Syria Caucus, led a group of 33 Members of Congress in urging President Trump to take action on behalf of the three million Syrian civilians trapped and facing a serious escalation of violence by the Assad regime and Russia in the northwest of Syria. President Trump previously spoke out to stop an impending assault on Idlib in September, leading to a ceasefire that held for nearly five months.
“With one voice, the Syria Caucus is urging President Trump to again act to stop the Assad regime’s assault in Idlib which threatens to create the largest humanitarian crisis we’ve seen yet in Syria’s war,” said Erica Hanichak of Americans for a Free Syria. “President Trump must again show there will be consequences if Assad and his allies continue their offensive on three million civilians.”
“We are alarmed by the bombardment of innocent Syrian civilians in Idlib and Hama executed by Bashar al-Assad, his barbaric regime, and his cronies in Iran and Russia. Three weeks ago, the attacks in Idlib began killing and wounding hundreds of civilians,’” said Members of Congress in the letter. “For eight years now, the Assad regime and its allies have slaughtered Syrians under the guise of fighting terrorism…We urge you to work to preserve the cease-fire established last year for the northwestern part of Syria. As the Department of State spokesperson said, ‘It is imperative to avoid large scale military offensives in Idlib, return to a de-escalation of violence in the area, and allow for unhindered humanitarian access to address the humanitarian disaster created by the ongoing violence.’”
The letter, available here, was signed by the following Members of Congress:
Co-Chairman Brendan Boyle (D-PA)
Co-Chairman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)
Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY)
Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX)
Chairman Ted Deutch (D-FL)
Ranking Member Joe Wilson (R-SC)
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE)
Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN)
Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI)
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN)
Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH)
Rep. Steven Cohen (D-TN)
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI)
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX)
Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
Rep. French Hill (R-AR)
Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI)
Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL)
Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA)
Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV)
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL)
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ)
Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH)
Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA)
Rep. Steve Watkins (R-KS)
Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO)
Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL)
Americans for a Free Syria (AFS) is a non-partisan, non-profit that advocates for human rights, the rule of law and U.S. national security interests in Syria.
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