On September 6, 2017, the Human Rights Council released a report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. The Commission stated it its report that violence throughout Syria continues in violation of international humanitarian and human rights law and that it is primarily affecting civilian populations. The report notes that “warring parties continued to lay sieges and instrumentalized humanitarian aid in order to erode the viability of civilian support bases and compel surrender.” The Commission also found that terrorist and armed groups had “targeted religious minorities through car and suicide bombings, the use of snipers and hostage-taking” and that “Government forces continued the pattern of using chemical weapons against civilians in opposition-held areas.” The Commission highlighted its concern regarding international coalition air strikes and stated that “forces of the United States of America failed to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian objects when attacking a mosque, in violation of international humanitarian law,” and that coalition air strikes in general have resulted in numerous civilian deaths.