At least 12 civilians were killed, and others were injured, when Syrian regime forces targeted a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) near the Turkish-Syrian border in the village of Qah in the northern countryside of Idlib.
Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Idlib reported on Thursday 21 November that Syrian regime forces, stationed in Jabal Azzan in the countryside of Aleppo, targeted the camp with missiles loaded with cluster munitions during night hours.
The Syrian Civil Defense stated on its official Facebook page that the attack resulted the death of 12 people and injuring 20 others, at the latest count, as well as huge damage to tents and property, amid expectations of casualty numbers to climb.
The targeted area is located near the Turkish-Syrian border in the northern countryside of Idlib. The area is considered “safe” as it contains a number of IDP camps, away from areas of clashes.
The Syrian regime forces, nor its auxiliary forces, made no comments about the attacks. The state-run news agency (SANA) reported however that opposition factions were shelling the residential areas in the city of Aleppo.
The agency quoted a source in the headquarters of Aleppo police, today, that five missiles were fired on al-Hamadaniyyah district in Aleppo city, “by terrorist groups deployed in the western outskirts of the city.” The source did not mention any injuries.
The southern and western areas of Idlib province are subjected to aerial and missile bombardment carried out by regime forces its Russian allies, targeting residential areas, vital infrastructure and markets.
Airstrikes by Russian warplanes targeted the city of Maarat al-Numan and its surroundings on Wednesday, killing six people and wounding others.
The military escalation on Idlib continues despite the truce announced by Russia in late August. The UN has demanded that civilians be protected, and for the region to be spared a further wave of displacements and urged a political solution as an alternative to military action.
Turkey’s presidential spokesperson, Ibrahim Kalin said on 19 November that “the situation in the province of Idlib, in north-western Syria is still fragile and that Turkey is continuing talks with Russian authorities in this regard.”
“I would like to point out that Russian authorities have a serious responsibility (with regard to the developments in) Idlib because our agreement for the formation of de-escalation zone is still in place. Moreover, it is of great importance in terms of maintaining the status quo and avoiding a new humanitarian crisis in Idlib,” said Kalin.
Kalin continued, “we have 12 military checkpoints there. The Syrian regime’s provocations and intimidation must be prevented to preserve the lives of civilians who are under the protection of the military observation posts,” according to the Turkish state-run news agency, Anadolu.