3 civilians killed, 8 wounded in regime attack in Idlib

An attack by the Syrian regime and allied Iran-backed foreign terrorist groups killed at least three civilians, including a child, and wounded eight others in the opposition-held Idlib de-escalation zone in northern Syria.

The regime forces fired shells at six villages in southern Idlib, a village in western Hama, two villages in northern Latakia and two points in western Aleppo, violating a cease-fire deal in the de-escalation zone.

At least three civilians were killed, including a child, and five others wounded in the attack by regime forces in Afs village in southeastern Idlib. Three people were wounded in the attack on the Atarib district of Aleppo, Firas Khalifa, Idlib media head of the Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets), told Anadolu Agency (AA).

The Jabal al-Zawiya area of southern Idlib has come under near daily attack by regime forces over the past three weeks, in violation of a March 2020 ceasefire agreement between the regime's ally Russia and Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels.

The Syrian regime, however, has consistently violated the terms of the cease-fire, launching frequent attacks inside the de-escalation zone.

Northwestern Syria is home to 3.5 million refugees but is controlled by opposition Islamist fighters.

The regime forces used the Russian laser-guided Krasnopol artillery shells in their attacks, which was usually used to destroy fortified field installations.

Russia had used this type of projectile for the first time last March, targeting 3 Atarib Surgical Hospital in the western countryside of Aleppo, killing 8 civilians, including woman and a child, in addition to the Significant material damage to the building of the external hospital and a number of its clinics and facilities, which at that time caused the hospital to go out of service.

Syria's 10-year conflict has killed half a million people and displaced half the country's pre-war population of 23 million. They include 5 million who are refugees outside the country.

(Zaman, Daily Sabah, Agencies)