PARIS, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- France on Tuesday accused the Syrian regime of "a grave violation of international humanitarian law" after its recent attacks on the Eastern Ghouta region close to the capital, Damascus.
A statement from the Foreign Ministry also held Russia and Iran responsible for implementing a cease-fire in Eastern Ghouta, under agreements reached in the Astana peace process that the two countries helped oversee.
Meanwhile, an estimated 100 people have died in the past 24 hours under a hail of artillery and aerial bombardments by Syrian forces,most of whom were civilians.
There are an estimated 400,000 people trapped and under siege in eastern Ghouta, while 750 others are in need of immediate medical evacuation in an area short on food, medicines, doctors and basic products.
France noted that the latest Syrian attacks "deliberately targeted inhabited zones and civilian infrastructure, notably medical (facilities)".
At least four hospitals were said to have been bombed in the shelling, which also included the use of barrel bombs.
"These actions engage the responsibility of the Syrian regime, but also that of Russia and Iran who are (Syria's) principal supporters and who, in the Astana agreements, were guarantors for a cease-fire that was supposed to apply to eastern Ghouta," the French statement said.
France urged UN Security Council members "to assume their responsibilities in order to finally arrive at a humanitarian truce" in the Damascus suburb. (end) jk.nam