Airstrikes by Russian warplanes on Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Russian warplanes launched on Tuesday, air strikes on Idlib governorate, northwestern Syria, which has been subjected to a ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Ankara since March.
Russian warplanes targeted the town of Binin and the outskirts of Shannan village in Zawiya Mountain region in the southern countryside of Idlib, a field source told North Press.
The source added that the Russian airstrikes caused significant material damage to public facilities and civilian property, without reports about casualties.
The Russian raids coincided with artillery shelling and rocket fire carried out by the Syrian government forces on the armed groups’ positions in the villages and towns of Kansafra, al-Fateira, and Kafr Uweid, south of Idlib.
On Monday evening, the opposition groups repelled an infiltration attempt by government forces in the al-Ghab Plain area in Hama countryside, killing and injuring a number of them, a military source told North Press.
Activists told North Press that the opposition groups targeted a Russian L20 drone and forced it to withdraw towards Hmeimim Airport in Latakia governorate.
Recently, the region has been witnessing a military escalation and mutual bombardment between the Syrian government forces and the Turkish-backed armed opposition groups, amid talk of the government’s intention to launch a new military operation.
The agreement signed between Russia and Turkey in 2017 and its additional protocol in March 2020 provide for the cessation of military operations in Idlib Governorate and the surrounding areas.