Despite a ceasefire, at least nine civilians were killed in a government airstrike in Syria’s last large rebel area, Idlib, according to activists. At least 20 people have been injured, the Syrian Human Rights Observatory based in the UK said today. According to the information, an industrial area and a market in the city of Idlib were hit.
Aircraft from the government and its ally Russia have bombed other locations in the region in dozens of attacks, the observatory and other activists said. Russia announced a new ceasefire for the area on Thursday, which had been agreed with Turkey. Ankara supports the rebels in the Syrian civil war.
Dominated by militia
The rebel area around the city of Idlib in northwestern Syria is dominated by the militia Haiat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is close to Al Qaeda. Syria and Russia pretend to fight terrorists there. Around three million people live in the area, more than half of whom are refugees. The city of Idlib in particular is densely populated.
Aid organizations complain of a dramatic humanitarian situation. There is a lack of accommodation, food and health care. People also suffer from the winter cold. The government launched an offensive on the region last year.
