Yesterday, it was reported by some rebel factions Russian Federation was involved, though Russian Federation has since denied this, saying they are still not hitting al-Qaeda targets, at the behest of certain rebel factions trying to extricate themselves from the al-Qaeda-dominated coalition.
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In a statement, the Free Idlib Provincial Council said that “We announce that the province of Idlib is a province afflicted with disaster after being targeted by more than 40 air strikes in 12 hours, and we hold the worldwide community responsible for what is happening today and every day in the city”.
“Russian planes did not carry out any combat missions, to say nothing of any airstrikes, in the province of Idlib”, said Igor Konashenkov, a Russian Defence Ministry spokesman.
According to Observatory figures, Russian air strikes have killed more than 2,000 civilians since Moscow began military support of President Bashar al-Assad last September. Orient News, a pro-opposition media outlet, said the death toll went up to 50 civilians, while Turkey said 60 people were killed and 200 injured.
Despite Russia’s denial, an activist based in Idlib, Ahmad Ariha, claims the Russians are targeting the Nusra Front.
Abdalrhman Ismail / ReutersPeople inspect a site hit by an airstrike in the rebel held area of Aleppo’s al-Sukari district, Syria.
The Observatory said hospitals were not targeted, but suffered damage when bombs struck nearby.
Ariha, the Syria-based activist, said fresh air raids on Tuesday destroyed two vaccination centers in the village of Kfar Takharim. Some people allegedly tried to flee the city but the bombing followed them. “People are even getting bombarded in refugee camps”.
Footage showed one child being rescued from the rubble.
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The Syrian Democratic Forces, who control a swathe of territory along the Turkish border, launched a push south towards the IS stronghold of Raqa last week, capturing a string of villages in the north of Raqa province.
