,,iii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #hg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ae1 #bjag ,mr4 ,kaine 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,mc,cain1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 and ,mr4 ,murphy7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,expressing the sense of the ,senate concerning the ongoing conflict in ,syria as it reaches its six-year mark in ,march1 the ensuing humanitarian crisis in ,syria and neighboring countries1 the resulting humanitarian and national security challenges1 and the urgent need for a political solution to the crisis4 ,whereas the transnational ,salafi-jihadi organizations ,,isil and al ,qaeda are utilizing the conflict in ,syria and the actions of the ,assad regime to recruit and mobilize fighter and popular support2 ,whereas the crisis in ,syria has led to the creation of terrorist safe havens controlled by ,,isil and al ,qaeda1 along with other extremist groups1 which have become bases from which to plan1 direct1 and inspire attacks against the ,united ,states and its allies and partners2 ,whereas the spread of violence perpetuated by the ,syrian conflict and the flow of refugees is a threat to the security of ,united ,states allies in the ,middle ,east and ,europe1 placing immense domestic and humanitarian burdens on ,syria's neighbors1 most notably ,lebanon and ,jordan1 as well as ,turkey and ,iraq2 ,whereas the ,syrian conflict has allowed ,iran's ,islamic ,revolutionary ,guard ,corps and its proxies to increase their influence in parts of ,syria and potentially threaten ,israel's borders2 ,whereas ,united ,nations ,security ,council resolutions #bccb 7#bjaf71 #bbfh 7#bjaf71 and #baci 7#bjad7 call for the implementation of a cessation of hostilities in ,syria and reaffirm the international community's support for the immediate1 direct1 and uninhibited access of humanitarian workers throughout the ,syrian ,arab ,republic2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees estimates that the ,syrian conflict has created #d1hjj1jjj refugees and #f1fjj1jjj internally displaced persons2 ,whereas widespread and systematic attacks on civilians1 schools1 hospitals1 and other civilian infrastructure1 in violation of international humanitarian law1 continue in ,syria1 in particular as result of the actions of the ,assad regime and its ,russian and ,iranian supporters2 ,whereas widespread and systematic violations of the human rights of the people of ,syria continue to be perpetrated by the ,assad regime2 ,whereas1 according to ,amnesty ,international1 the ,assad regime has a documented record of committing mass human rights abuses against detainees1 including #e1jjj to #ac1jjj detainees summarily executed by hanging between ,september #bjaa through ,december #bjae2 ,whereas the regime of ,bashar al-,assad has repeatedly blocked civilian access to or diverted humanitarian assistance1 including medical supplies1 from besieged and hard-to-reach areas1 in violation of ,united ,nations ,security ,council resolutions2 ,whereas the ,assad regime is subject to and in violation of both ,united ,nations ,security ,council ,resolution #baah 7#bjac7 on the ,framework for ,elimination of ,syrian ,chemical ,weapons and ,united ,nations ,security ,council ,resolution #bbji 7#bjae7 ,condemning the ,use of ,chlorine ,gas in ,syria2 ,whereas the ,governments of the ,russian ,federation and ,iran have supported the ,assad regime1 perpetuated the conflict1 and deployed tactics and strategies that have caused grave harm to civilians1 including their conduct in the siege of eastern ,aleppo1 constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity2 ,whereas there exists sufficient documentation1 as well as credible1 clear1 and convincing reporting1 to charge ,bashar al-,assad with war crimes and crimes against humanity due to the ,assad regime's confirmed use of chemical weapons1 use of barrel bombs against noncombatants1 widespread use of torture1 summary executions1 prolonged sieges1 forcible relocations1 and indiscriminate targeting of civilians and humanitarian actors2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government has provided over #e1hjj1jjj since #bjaa in humanitarian assistance to communities and people directly impacted by the ,syrian conflict1 including #cfd1jjj1jjj that will be provided in fiscal year #bjag for refugees and other people displaced by the ,syrian conflict2 and ,whereas the ,united ,states ,armed ,forces are leading the ,global ,coalition to ,counter ,,isil and are deployed with ,coalition allies within the territory of ,syria and are working by1 with1 and through local ,syrian partner forces to defeat ,,isil and stabilize territory taken from it3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 strongly condemns the regime of ,bashar al-,assad for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ,syrian conflict1 including the use of chemical weapons1 in violation of its obligations as required by ,united ,nations ,security ,council ,resolutions #baah 7#bjac7 and #bbji 7#bjae71 and for the widespread use of torture1 summary executions1 prolonged sieges1 forcible relocations1 and indiscriminate targeting of civilians and humanitarian actors2 7#b7 condemns the ,assad regime and the ,government of the ,russian ,federation for using indiscriminate cluster munitions on civilian areas and infrastructure and for the deliberate targeting of ,united ,nations humanitarian aid convoys2 7#c7 urges all parties to the conflict1 particularly the ,russian ,federation1 ,iran1 and ,iranian-backed militias1 to immediately halt indiscriminate attacks1 the imposition of starvation sieges1 and other forms of warfare directed against civilians and civilian infrastructure2 7#d7 strongly urges all parties to the conflict to allow for and facilitate immediate1 unfettered access to humanitarian assistance throughout ,syria1 respecting the safety1 security1 independence1 and impartiality of humanitarian workers and ensuring freedom of movement to deliver aid1 particularly in areas of ,syria controlled by opposition forces2 7#e7 affirms the neutrality of medical professionals providing humanitarian assistance and health care on a non-political basis1 and condemns attacks against such personnel or interference in the provision of medical care1 particularly in areas of ,syria controlled by opposition forces2 7#f7 encourages the ,president to make it the policy of the ,united ,states ,government to continue to coordinate a comprehensive and generous response to the ,syrian humanitarian crisis1 including assistance and development1 and protection of human rights inside ,syria and in the region2 7#g7 urges all parties in ,syria to support the immediate and full implementation of ,united ,nations ,security ,council ,resolution #bbfh 7#bjaf71 which calls for a cessation of hostilities in the conflict1 except with ,,isil and al ,qaeda and their affiliated organizations1 to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance and reconstruction of war-affected communities in ,syria2 7#h7 affirms that the elimination of al ,qaeda and ,,isis safe havens in ,syria1 from which those organizations can plan and launch attacks against the ,united ,states and its partners1 is a vital national security interest of the ,united ,states2 7#i7 commends the ,syrian ,democratic ,forces1 the ,syrian ,arab ,coalition1 and other local1 ,syrian partner forces for their support of ,operation ,inherent ,resolve and the efforts of the ,global ,coalition to ,counter ,,isil2 7#aj7 affirms that the stability of key ,european and ,middle ,eastern partners is vital to the national security of the ,united ,states and preventing the ,syrian conflict from undermining that stability is a top priority for the ,united ,states2 7#aa7 calls on the international community to continue to support neighboring countries and host communities who are generously supporting refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing the conflict in ,syria2 7#ab7 calls on the ,president to continue the active participation of the ,united ,states ,government in a robust and effective diplomatic process to achieve a political agreement to the ,syrian conflict2 and 7#ac7 urges the ,president to develop and submit to the ,committees on ,foreign ,relations and ,armed ,services of the ,senate within #ij days a strategy for providing long-term stability and security in areas seized from ,,isil4