Press release
Syrian National Coalition – Syria
Department of Media and Communications
January 16, 2020
Idlib is being slaughtered today, not only by Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime; but also by the failure of the free world to take concrete action, protect civilians, or allow its people to have the necessary weapons to deter the criminals.
The military escalation by the Russian occupation, the Assad regime, and Iranian militias is not just an isolated breach of the truce, but a systematic criminal policy. These truces have become a tool of warfare that the regime and its allies are using to build up forces for further attacks and prepare for battle.
Aerial bombardment by the Russian and Assad regime forces on Wednesday resulted in the death of no fewer than 20 civilians and the injury of more than 80 others as well as caused massive destruction.
As usual, these escalating attacks mainly hit civilian targets as it targeted a vegetable market and an industrial zone in Idlib city as well as the main public market in the town of Ariha, residential neighborhoods, and a number of towns and villages southeast of Idlib.
We call on the international community to protect civilians with all necessary means and to prevent further attacks and mass displacement using all means possible.
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