Russian bombing in northwest Syria leaves ten dead and more than thirty injured, according to OSDH

Russian bombings near the town of Idlib, in northwestern Syria, killed ten people and injured thirty others, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) said on Wednesday, October 16. . “The number of people killed in Idlib rose to ten civilians, including a child, due to Russian aerial bombardments on the Idlib countryside”according to the NGO established in the United Kingdom. Among the injured are fourteen children, added the OSDH, which also specified that Russia had struck “a sawmill, a furniture workshop and an olive press” on the outskirts of the city of Idlib.

Syrian civil defense said the bombings had “targeted a furniture manufacturing workshop while workers were inside, killing ten civilians and seriously injuring thirty-two others”. The White Helmets recovered the bodies of those killed, she said.

The Russian military has not commented on the bombings. Moscow, the main supporter of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, has intervened militarily since 2015 and regularly carries out strikes against the rebels in the North-West. A ceasefire negotiated by Russia and Turkey was declared in Idlib, but it is regularly violated.

The Syrian regime has regained control of a large part of the country, with the support of its Russian and Iranian allies, since the outbreak of the conflict in 2011. About half of Idlib province is controlled by the rebel group jihadist Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. At the beginning of September, twelve Syrian soldiers were killed in a suicide attack carried out by this organization, the OSDH reported.

Israeli raid in Latakia overnight

During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, the official Syrian agency SANA reported an air attack “Israeli” which caused fires in the coastal town of Latakia, not far from Idlib.

“Air defense intercepted hostile targets over Latakia”reported SANA, referring to “fires started by Israeli aggression” at the entrance to this city which is the stronghold of President Al-Assad, ally of Lebanese Hezbollah in war against Israel. The OSDH reported on “Israeli strike targeting weapons warehouse in Latakia”.