In Idlib, Syria, seven civilians lost their lives and 20 others were wounded after being bombed by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian Civil Defence, a volunteer group providing medical and relief services to opposition-held areas, responded to the deaths of five civilians in Darat Izza, including a child and a pregnant woman. Additionally, 15 people were injured in missile bombardment in Idlib. In the western countryside of Aleppo, two more civilians were killed by artillery shelling, and the Civil Defence reported 48 attacks on civilians this month alone.
The bombings have caused fear and displacement among residents. One resident, Majoun Turki, was wounded by shrapnel, and his family fled towards the highway for safety. The repeated bombardment of Darat Izza has led to further displacement of civilians. A resident, Bashar Fandu, stated that his cousins were killed in the recent bombing while buying gasoline.
The Syrian regime and Russia deny targeting civilians, claiming they only strike military faction sites. However, an observer in the area contradicts this, stating that recent attacks on Idlib were unprovoked and not linked to military actions by opposition factions. Despite a ceasefire truce in place since March 2020, violations have continued, with 1,206 attacks causing 154 deaths and 652 injuries. The ongoing attacks are worsening the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region, forcing more people to flee.
The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, has expressed concern about the renewed bombing campaigns in northwestern Syria. Over the recent months, 120,000 people have been displaced from the southern Idlib countryside. The situation is putting the lives of residents at risk and creating instability in the region, particularly with the approaching winter. Of the 4.5 million people living in northwestern Syria, 2.9 million are displaced, with two million living in camps lacking basic services.