UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Monday reminded parties to the conflict in northwest Syria of obligations under international humanitarian law following a Damascus announcement that it was resuming military operations in the region.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the organization is "aware of the Syrian government's announcement this (Monday) morning on resumption of military operations in the northwest and continue to call on all parties to the conflict, and those who have influence over them, of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times."
Dujarric also said there were reports of civilians beginning to return to the homes they left in southern Idlib, raising concerns "over the impact of unexploded ordnance, the lack or absence of basic services, including water and the ability of humanitarian workers to access the population."
The spokesman said infrastructure and many residential areas were destroyed or heavily damaged in the region during the civil war.
Syria's announcement that it was resuming military operations in the northwest came at a time the world organization described as a "fragile situation in the northwest part of Syria."
The Damascus announcement on Monday followed word last week that a cease-fire agreement had been reached between the government and opposition in the Idlib region.
Published reports said the government blamed opposition attacks in the face of the cease-fire accord.
Prior to the cease-fire announcement, there had been an increasing number of reports that civilians and their medical facilities were being targeted in air raids in the northwest region.
