Russian, Syrian jets step up bombing of Syria’s northwest - Reuters
Photo: Dead and wounded reported at the site (Getty Images)
On Sunday, Russian and Syrian jets stepped up their bombing of northwestern Syria, targeting rebel-held areas, Reuters reports.
According to Reuters, on December 1, aircraft from both nations struck the city of Idlib in northern Syria, a stronghold of the opposition. The attack coincided with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's vow to crush insurgents who recently advanced into Aleppo.
Local residents reported that one of the strikes, on the second day of the raids, hit a densely populated residential district in central Idlib. This city, the largest within the rebel enclave near the Turkish border, is home to nearly four million people living in makeshift tents and shelters.
Rescue workers stated that at least seven people were killed at the scene, with dozens more injured. Meanwhile, the Syrian military and its ally, Russia, claimed they were targeting rebel group hideouts, denying accusations of attacks on civilians.
On Saturday, Russian and Syrian jets bombed other towns across Idlib province, which recently fell under full rebel control following their boldest offensive in years. The civil war's front lines have largely been static since 2020.
Earlier, on Friday evening, rebels stormed into Aleppo, east of Idlib province, forcing Syrian forces to redeploy. The move marked the most significant challenge to Assad's rule in recent years.
On November 30, Bashar al-Assad broke his silence regarding the unfolding situation, expressing hope for support from allies to counter the rebel advance. Read more about this in RBC-Ukraine's article.
