PARIS

France on Friday strongly condemned the clashes in Syria’s southwestern Dara’a city, calling the attacks by the Assad regime’s forces that killed at least 15 civilians a “murderous offensive.”

A statement by the Foreign Ministry reaffirmed France’s commitment to the “fight against impunity for the most serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.”

It added that the deadly offensive on Dara’a, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising, confirms that “without a credible political process, Syria, including the areas under the regime’s control, will not return to stability” and an “inclusive political process” is the only solution.

Since the beginning of the conflict, France has called for Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad to step down.

On Thursday, the regime forces launched a ground assault with tanks and artillery shells in the neighborhood of Daraa al-Balad, controlled by the former members of the Syrian opposition.

The rebel forces in response targeted some checkpoints and military positions of the regime forces, resulting in violent clashes.

In 2018, Russia-backed regime forces brokered a reconciliation deal and recaptured Dara’a from the opposition rebels.