Ongoing Russian War on Syrians: Air Strikes Claim Lives of Three Family Members on Idlib Outskirts

Over the past 24 hours, the relentless attacks by the regime and Russia have resulted in the tragic loss of five innocent civilians in the western countryside of Aleppo and on the outskirts of Idlib. These horrifying incidents have occurred without any effective international deterrence to put an end to such crimes and safeguard the lives of civilians in accordance with international laws and norms.

Russian warplanes and regime forces continue attacks on villages and towns in northwestern Syria, leading to the loss of civilian lives and causing injuries, even affecting humanitarian workers trying to assist those in need. This incident continues as a grim reminder of their long-standing policy of targeting civilians, with seemingly no effective deterrence in place for the past 12 years of this ongoing conflict. Adding to the gravity of the situation, an unprecedented humanitarian crisis unfolds as the cross-border aid entry mechanism faces suspension due to the Russian veto, further exacerbating the plight of vulnerable populations in the region

3 civilians (a man, his wife, and their son) were killed and 6 people, including a woman, were injured in Russian air strikes that targeted farms, buildings, and civilian homes, on the road linking the city of Idlib and the village of Ain Sheeb, today, Saturday, August 5. White Helmets rescue teams and paramedics at the scene were subjected to a double attack by an air strike while they were rescuing the injured.

At approximately 11:02 AM, the first raid struck a residential house where a family lived, resulting in the tragic deaths of the man, his wife, and their son. Additionally, five other people in the vicinity were injured during the attack.This was followed by a second air raid at around 11:04 AM, which targeted the same location. Then, at approximately 11:11 AM, the third raid targeted a residential house close to the initial site, injuring another person, as our volunteers from the rescue teams and other paramedics were near the area.

Yesterday, Friday, August 4, 2 civilians were killed and 4 others wounded, including the son of one of the dead, who is in critical condition, as a result of a double targeting by regime forces in Sheikh Aqil area, west of Aleppo. The first attack targeted a civilian car (van) on the Barjaka-Favertin road, west of Aleppo, without recording any injuries. The second attack targeted a forklift while its owner, his son, and other civilians were working to tow the targeted car.

On Sunday, June 25, Russian warplanes committed a massacre as nine people, including workers and farmers, were killed, and 61 others were injured, in a vegetable and fruit market on the outskirts of the city of Jisr al-Shughour in the western countryside of Idlib.

The regime and its Russian ally's attacks on northwestern Syria have recently increased and focused on the western and southern countryside of Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo. The eastern countryside of Idlib and the northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo are exposed from time to time to similar attacks, whether by air raids or double targeting with guided heat missiles.

Since the beginning of this year 2023 until yesterday, Friday, August 4, our teams responded to 416 attacks in the northwestern regions of Syria, including 12 Russian attacks with 27 raids. 46 people were killed in these attacks, including 7 children and 4 women, and 184 people were injured, including 58 children and 26 women.

The continuous attacks of the regime forces and Russia come within a systematic method of crime in order to kill life in northwestern Syria, depriving civilians of stability, imposing a state of terror and panic among them, and imposing further restrictions by fighting all means of life and sources of livelihood.

The relentless attacks by the regime forces and Russia are part of a systematic method aimed at extinguishing life in northwestern Syria. Their actions deprive civilians of stability, instill fear and panic, and further restrict their access to means of livelihood and survival. These continuous attacks and attempts to block aid are a blatant disregard for humanity and a violation of international humanitarian law. To address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, a paramount focus must be placed on a political solution in alignment with Security Council Resolution 2254. It is crucial for the international community to prioritize this as the long-term solution to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.