Syria is currently experiencing an unprecedented wave of violence, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Syria warned in a comprehensive report released on Monday.

Emphasising an urgent need for international efforts to bring about a ceasefire and effectively address the situation, the detailed report meticulously details an alarming escalation of violence across Syria, with a particular focus on attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure – actions that likely constitute war crimes.

A major focus of the report is the Turkish military’s intensified operations against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria. The Commission condemned Turkey’s airstrikes on power plants, which deprived nearly a million people of water and electricity, in clear violation of established humanitarian norms, as well as targeted airstrikes on civilians.

“Civilians have also been killed in targeted airstrikes that fit a pattern of Turkish drone attacks. Such attacks may amount to war crimes,” the Commission said.

The conflict in Syria remains extremely complex, characterised by the involvement of multiple actors. The Syrian government, backed by allies such as Russia and Iran, is fighting various opposition groups, some of which are supported by Western countries. The presence of extremist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda adds further layers of complexity.

In addition, the report highlighted an increase in tensions between foreign armies operating in Syria, including from Israel, Iran and the United States, raising concerns of a wider conflict.

The report called for accountability for those responsible for war crimes and human rights abuses. It urged the international community to support the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), a body established in 2016 with a mandate to collect, preserve and analyse evidence of international crimes committed in Syria, in facilitation of the pursuit of justice.

The Commission will present its report to the UN Human Rights Council on 18 March, underlining the gravity of the situation and the need for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.