Today, Thursday, October 31, areas in northwestern Syria experienced intense shelling from regime forces, who targeted various locations in the Idlib and Aleppo countrysides with heavy artillery, rockets, and suicide drones.

A reporter for Enab Baladi in Idlib stated that regime forces targeted olive harvest workers in the village of San in eastern Idlib with suicide drones, resulting in injuries to a man, his wife, and their son, as documented by the Civil Defence.

Meanwhile, a reporter for Enab Baladi in Aleppo countryside reported that the regime targeted the towns and villages of Darat Izza, al-Abzamo, Kafr Amma, Kafr Taal, Kafr Nouran, and the farms of al-Asaasous in western Aleppo with heavy artillery and rockets, with no news of any injuries.

In the same context, the Military Observatory account via Telegram reported that the regime shelled villages and towns in Aleppo countryside today with six ‘elephant’ rockets, 30 Grad rockets, 25 heavy artillery shells, 45 mortar shells, and three suicide drones.

The observatory added that the Syrian regime also targeted the vicinity of the village of San in Idlib countryside with seven suicide drones, resulting in injuries and damage to a vehicle and a workshop for olive harvesters, while the village of Kadura near a Turkish point was subjected to artillery shelling, and the extent of the damage remains unknown.

For his part, “Observatory 80” (Abu Amin) stated on Telegram that there has been a state of alert, intensified monitoring, and heightened readiness of artillery units and drone crews in recent hours.

The observatory warned civilians working in olive harvesting in agricultural lands near the frontline to reduce gatherings and movements, hide agricultural equipment, and restrict movement during reconnaissance drone flights.

The intensification of shelling today comes amid recurring rumors about a potential military operation by opposition factions in northern Syria against regime-controlled areas.

In the middle of this month, there was a Russian military escalation, as Russian warplanes launched more than 25 airstrikes on various areas in Aleppo, Idlib, and Latakia countrysides in a single day (October 14).

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) issued a report on October 23, documenting the responsibility of the Russian army for the deaths of 11 civilians following its shelling of the outskirts of Idlib city, as well as the destruction of the al-Kilani power station in the Ain al-Zarqa area of western Idlib, depriving thousands of civilians of water.

According to the report, which spanned 16 pages, northwestern Syria witnessed “intense” military escalation between October 14 and 16, manifesting as daily Russian airstrikes utilizing heavy explosive aircraft and missiles.

The Civil Defence repeatedly confirms the existence of “serious” threats regarding continued escalation by regime forces and their shelling of residential neighborhoods and civilian environments in northwestern Syria, warning of a humanitarian disaster, new waves of displacement, and worsening humanitarian tragedy in the region.