Nine civilians from one family were killed in Russian airstrikes on the town of Al-Shaa’fa in rural Deir Ezzor on Wednesday, local activists said.
Activists in the town of Albu Kamal said that Russian jets carried out multiple air strikes on the nearby town of Al-Shaa’fa near the Iraqi border on December 20, killing a whole family and wounding many others. Activists confirmed that the airstrikes were deliberately targeted at civilian homes.
Activists documented by full names the names of the victims. They are Tahir Khalil al-Zakia, his wife, Qusay Khalil al-Zakiya), and six children.
The Russian bombing campaign in Syria has caused a staggering number of civilian casualties in Syrian cities and towns since the start of its direct military intervention in September 2015. The bombing campaign has killed and maimed thousands of civilians as well as caused massive destruction to hundreds of vital civilian facilities as confirmed by international and local organizations. The Syrian Coalition repeatedly condemned the deliberate Russian attacks on civilians in Syria.
The Coalition called for international action to stop the crimes being committed by Russia and the Assad regime. It stressed that statements made by the representatives of the active players have so far failed to put pressure on the Assad regime and Russian occupiers. These statements cannot absolve the international community of its legal and humanitarian responsibilities to protect civilians and maintain peace and security in Syria. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
