Intensified aerial bombardment on Idlib amid Syrian army combing of newly controlled areas
Idlib – North-Press Agency
The Syrian government and Russian forces are continuing their escalation in de-escalation zones in northwestern Syria, through intensive aerial bombardment, after controlling the city of Khan Shaykhun and other areas in the southern countryside of Idlib and northern Hama governorate.
Syrian and Russian fighter jets continue aerial bombardment by targeting the areas of Hass, Jisr al-Shughur, al-Kafeer, al-Tah and Hazareen in the western and southern countryside of Idlib, causing a number of injuries.
Furthermore, Syrian helicopters also shelled the village of Rakaya and Deir al-Sharqi area in southern Idlib countryside with barrel bombs, causing further material damage.
Meanwhile, Kabanah area of Jabal al-Akrad in the north-eastern countryside of Latakia has undergone aerial bombardment since early this morning, with no reports on casualties so far.
While combing operations by the Syrian army are still going on inside the city of Khan Shaykhun, and the areas from which the armed opposition groups, the Islamic Party of Turkistan and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have withdrawn early this morning.
The fate of the Turkish observation post in Morak, north of Hama, is still unknown, It was established on April 4, 2018, within the area that was recovered by the Syrian government forces on Tuesday.
While the US Department of State spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus stressed in a statement on social media that: “The Assad regime and its allies must return to the ceasefire in Idlib now,” noting that “a reckless airstrike on a Turkish convoy follows ongoing vicious attacks against civilians, humanitarian workers, and infrastructure, we condemn this violence and it must end”.
The aerial and ground bombardment and the military operation caused a large-scale displacement wave, where about tens of thousands of people have been displaced since the11th of August.
The recent escalation followed the 11th round of Astana talks, which stressed on the political solution, amid the expectations of holding trilateral summit includes the presidents of the three guarantor countries of Astana’s process regarding Syria on September 11 in Ankara.
Syria Response Coordinators Team (a relief statistical team) has revealed the deaths of more than 85 people, including 24 children, in Idlib and Hama governorates.
During the period between 11 and 19 August, the number of IDPs has reached more than 141,193 displaced people, while more than 869,992 people have been displaced since early February this year.