U.N. panel: Syrian civilians running out of havens, boys recruit - 12 News KBMT and K-JAC. News, Weather and Sports for SE Texas

By Saad Abedine and Holly Yan

Syrian civilians are running out of places to take cover as indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombings destroy more neighborhoods, an independent U.N. panel said.

In addition, both government and rebel fighters have reportedly recruited boys as young as 12 or 13 to join their forces, the group said. Both sides are accused of violating international humanitarian law.

The two years of incessant violence have left 2 million Syrians internally displaced and more than 4 million in need of humanitarian aid, the panel said.

The consequences will be even more devastating if the civil war drags on, said Paulo Pinheiro, chairman of the U.N.'s commission of inquiry on Syria.

"If the national, regional, and international actors fail to find a solution to the conflict and stop the agony of millions of civilians, the alternative will be the political, economic and social destruction of Syria and its society, with devastating implications for the region and the world," he said.

Louay Almokdad, a spokesman for the rebel Free Syrian Army, said he was shocked by the panel's findings.

"We are quite stunned that the U.N. would issue such a report and try to blame both sides for violations when it is clear who is committing atrocities in the country and who is killing our innocent civilians," Almokdad said.

The Syrian government, meanwhile, has consistently blamed "armed terrorist groups" for killing civilians. While the regime has often referred to opposition fighters as "terrorists," some radical militants -- such as members of the Nusra Front -- have also joined the fight against the government.

More than 70,000 Syrians -- mostly civilians -- have been killed since peaceful anti-government protests led to a fierce government crackdown, an armed uprising and a civil war with no end in sight.