Russian, Government Airstrikes in NW Syria Leave Casualties
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Russian and Syrian airstrikes, along with heavy shelling, struck multiple areas in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo, Northwest Syria, on Thursday, causing significant casualties among civilians and opposition fighters.
The escalation came as a response to a major offensive launched earlier this week by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) against government-held positions in Northwest Syria.
Casualties and Damage
A North Press correspondent reported that Russian warplanes and Syrian government aircraft targeted residential neighborhoods and marketplaces in western Aleppo and eastern Idlib Governorates.
Key Strikes and Impact:
- Al-Atarib (Aleppo Countryside):
- Airstrikes targeted the town’s main market, killing 16 people and injuring five others.
- Darat Izza (Aleppo Countryside):
- Bombardments struck buildings and shops, resulting in four deaths and nearly 20 injuries.
- Eastern Idlib Governorate:
- The cities of Ariha, Sarmada, and Mardikh, along with villages such as Iblin, al-Bara, Kafr Battikh, and Taftanaz, were heavily bombarded.
- Artillery and missile strikes injured seven civilians in these areas.
Military Casualties:
- Over 30 HTS and SNA fighters were killed in Russian airstrikes near the 46th Regiment base, Khan al-Assal, and Kafr Naha in western Aleppo.
- At least 50 government troops died during clashes in Aleppo and Idlib’s countryside.
Background of the Offensive
HTS and the SNA initiated a shock campaign against Syrian government forces earlier this week, capturing key locations, including the strategic towns of Kafr Naha and Khan al-Assal, in western Aleppo. The opposition factions have claimed to be advancing toward the outskirts of Aleppo city.
The conflict has displaced hundreds of families from affected areas, adding to the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
The M5 International Highway, a key economic and logistical route connecting Aleppo to Damascus, was cut off during the offensive, further escalating tensions and disrupting transportation and trade in the area.
Regional Implications
The intensifying violence in Northwest Syria underscores the fragile and volatile nature of the ongoing Syrian conflict, with Russian airpower playing a decisive role in countering the opposition’s advances. The humanitarian toll of these clashes has drawn international concern, with calls for de-escalation and renewed dialogue among the conflicting parties.