U.N. Vote on Syria Crisis Again Faces Russia Veto

The AP reports that the U.N. Security Council faces a “dramatic” vote today on referring Syria to the International Criminal Court “for investigation of possible war crimes, with dozens of countries signing on to embarrass Russia, who vowed to kill the measure that demands a path to justice.

“Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said Wednesday his country will veto the French-drafted resolution, calling it a ‘publicity stunt’ that will hurt efforts to find a political solution to a crisis that activists say has killed more than 160,000 and sent millions fleeing.”

The proposed resolution condemns what the U.N. has called the “widespread violation” of international humanitarian law “by Syrian authorities and pro-government militias as well as abuses and violations by ‘non-state armed groups’ during the last three years. It would refer the conflict to the world’s permanent war crimes tribunal without targeting either side.”

Aleppo Prison Siege Broken by Syrian Troops

The BBC reports that Syrian army forces have entered Aleppo’s central prison, breaking a rebel siege of the complex. The prison is notorious for holding thousands of inmates in highly unsanitary conditions, and has been the scene of intense fighting for months.

The network reports that the area is valuable to both the rebels and the government as it is strategically important, lying “near a key supply route for fighters in rebel-held parts of Aleppo.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “regular armed forces backed by pro-regime fighters” had been able break the opposition’s siege.

It comes on the heels of a humanitarian victory in Aleppo, where “some 60,000 people in the rebel-and government-held parts of [the] province received food aid for the first time in months on Wednesday after the International Committee of the Red Cross was granted access. ICRC president Peter Maurer said the operation, which will continue for the next few days, is the largest of its kind in recent months.”

Government Calls for Help Rebuilding Health System Wrecked by ‘Terrorists’

Reuters reports that Syria’s government said its medical system has been destroyed by “terrorists” and has asked for international help in rebuilding what was once one of the Arab region’s most sophisticated health infrastructures.

Since the beginning of the conflict, human-rights organizations and doctors on the ground have reported being targeted by government air raids, snipers and mortars. A May report from Physicians for Human Rights found that 90 percent of the country’s attacks on medical professionals had been perpetrated by the government.

But in a speech to ministers from World Health Organization member countries, Syrian Health Minister Saad al-Nayef said Assad’s regime was “doing its utmost” to save lives.

“I appeal to all of you, I appeal for assistance to rebuild our infrastructure, to re-establish our health centers, to recreate our health system,” he said, “and please, I beg you, remove the blockade, the embargo that we have suffered from and that has had a very negative impact on my country. Terrorist groups have caused all this damage.”

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