The Assad regime and its allies have dramatically escalated bombardment on rural Idlib, rural Homs, and rural Hama in recent days, killing and injuring dozens of civilians as well as causing massive destruction to health and services facilities. The Syrian Coalition said that this dangerous military escalation is part of the litany of war crimes being committed by the Assad regime and Russian forces.
Local activists pointed out that the ongoing bombardment is targeting areas that are covered by the ‘de-escalation zones’ agreement, forcing dozens of households to flee their homes. They stressed that Moscow does not honor its promises and commitments, while the Coalition said that Russia still stands on the side of Assad.
Doctors in Idlib province said that eight civilians were rushed to medical centers in the towns of Habeet and Tamana’a in rural Idlib. Local activists said that the two towns came under violent artillery shelling by regime forces.
Idlib Governorate Council, the directorate of health, and the Syrian Civil Defense earlier warned of an imminent “humanitarian disaster” threatening the lives of nearly three million people who live in the province, many of whom were forcibly displaced from various parts of Syria. However, bombardment has not stopped.
Activists in rural Homs blamed Russia for the continued bombings, stressing that Russia did not honor its commitment to rein in regime forces and the Iranian militias in the area. They noted that the area was bombed by artillery, tanks and rockets, especially the area of Houla.
The Assad regime’s air force violently raided rural Hama on Friday, with activists saying that over 30 airstrikes targeted the towns of Latamina and Kafarzeita. The bombings left 10 civilians wounded and destroyed many civilian homes. Barrel bomb attacks targeted the town of Qalqat al-Madiq, which is home to many people who were forcibly displaced from the Damascus suburbs, especially eastern Ghouta.
The Coalition has earlier called on the international community to take serious action and activate the international mechanism as key to putting an end to the crimes being committed by the Assad regime and Russia against Syrian civilians. It also called for protection of civilians in Idlib, Hama and Homs provinces. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
