Government attacks on NW Syria result in about 30 casualties
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Approximately 30 civilians were killed or injured on Saturday due to intensified military escalation by the Syrian government forces and Russian warplanes in several areas in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo in northwestern Syria.
Military sources in the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), informed North Press that the government forces targeted the cities of Idlib, Saraqib, Jisr al-Shughur, Ariha, and the towns of Ihsim, Majdaliya, Maarbalit, and Kafr Lata in Idlib countryside with over 150 artillery and missile shells.
Cities, town and villages in Idlib and Aleppo governorates have been witnessing intense government shelling since Thursday following an attack on a Military Academy in Homs, which the government accused “terrorist organizations” in Idlib of being behind.
On Thursday, several drones struck Homs Military Academy’s courtyard during a ceremony graduation where families were gathered with newly graduated young officers. The strikes took place minutes after Syria’s Minister of Defense Ali Mahmoud Abbas left the ceremony.
They further told North Press that the shelling resulted in the death of 11 civilians, including five children. The casualties were distributed as three in the city of Idlib, two in the village of Kafr Lata, four in the city of Ariha and the town of Ihsim, and two in Atarib and Termanin west of Aleppo.
On Friday, more than 100 people were killed or injured in a military escalation by the government forces and Russian forces in Idlib and Aleppo.