The Assad regime and Russian forces have intensified aerial and artillery bombardment on Dara’a province for the 4th consecutive day. The bombardment is targeting mainly residential areas and vital civilian facilities. The bombardment has left dozens of civilian casualties and put several hospitals in the province out of service.
The escalating assault on Dara’a came despite Russia’s pledge to stop airstrikes on the areas covered by the ceasefire agreement at the conclusion of the Astana II meeting on Thursday. The meeting brought together a technical military committee from the Free Syrian Army groups and representatives from Russia and Turkey, the guarantors of the truce, as well as representatives of the Assad regime.
Activists in Dara’a said that Assad’s air force launched dozens of airstrikes and rained dozens of barrel bombs on the neighborhoods of Dara’a on Friday. The towns of Alnaiema, Um Almiyathin, Bosra Alsham, and Alyadoudah were also targeted. The intense bombardment left dozens of civilian casualties, including women and children. The FSA-held areas were also subjected to constant artillery and rocket bombardment.
According to figures compiled by the Syrian Coalition’s media office, the Assad regime and Russian forces violated the cease-fire agreement in more than 50 areas across Syria on Thursday, including 13 in Dara’a province alone. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
