Russian-assisted Syrian Air Attack On Idlib Rebel Area Kills 25 People

PHOTO via X The White Helmets @SyriaCivivilDef

JAKARTA - A 25-person death in northwestern Syria in airstrikes launched by the Syrian and Russian governments.

The Syrian opposition-run aid service White Helmets said Russian and Syrian jets attacked the rebel-controlled city of Idlib in northern Syria on Sunday.

President Bashar al-Assad promised to destroy the rebels who had invaded the city of Aleppo.

Ten children were among the dead in airstrikes on and around Idlib and other targets in the rebel-held region near Aleppo on Sunday, according to White Helm.

The total death toll from attacks in Syria and Russia since November 27 has risen to 56, including 20 children, the group added in a statement on X.

Reuters could not independently confirm reports on the battlefield.

The rebels are a coalition of Turkey-backed major-current armed groups along with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamic group that has been designated as a terrorist group by the US, Russia, Turkey, and other countries.

In a joint statement, the United States, France, Germany, and Britain urged deescalation by all parties and the protection of civilians and infrastructure to prevent further evacuation and disruption of humanitarian access.

The rebels have taken control of all of Idlib provinces in recent days, the boldest insurgent attacks over the years in civil war where most of the front lines have been frozen since 2020.

They also stormed the city of Aleppo, east of Idlib, on Friday night last week, forcing troops to be deployed again.

In his remarks published in state media, Assad said, Terrorists only know the language of violence and it is a language we will use to destroy them'.

The Syrian army said dozens of its troops were killed in fighting in Aleppo.

Russian war bloggers reported on Sunday that Moscow had sacked Sergei Kisel, the general in charge of his troops in Syria.