Fourteen year old girl from Arihah, Idlib, critical condition after hit by mortar shrapnel.

From February 24-26, 2015, I joined a US delegation of 6 anti-war activists—including, notably, former Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, as well as former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and long-time anti-war advocate Sara Flounders, of the International Action Center—in a solidarity visit to Damascus. During our two days, we met with a number of important Syrian voices, including: Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, Political & Media Advisor to President al-Assad; Ministers of Information and Justice; Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; President of the (independent) BAR association; Syria’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, and leaders within the PFLP based in Syria.

However, on the human level, one important visit was that of the tour of Damascus’ largest hospital, University Hospital, where victims of terrorist rocket and mortar attacks were being treated. Following is an account of what…