Russian strikes kill 3 in northern Syria: White Helmets

IDLIB, Syria

At least three civilians were killed Friday when Russian warplanes attacked residential areas in northern Syria’s de-escalation zones, according to the White Helmets civil-defense agency.

The airstrikes targeted the village of Kafar Aweed in Idlib province and the village of Tel Huwash in Hama province, the civil-defense agency said.

According to pro-opposition sources, the Russian aircraft took off from the Khmeimim airbase in Syria’s western Latakia province.

In a related development, at least one civilian was injured when Syrian regime forces and Iran-back terrorist groups shelled Hama’s villages of Lahaya and Al-Boida and Idlib’s village of Benin, according to the White Helmets.

Last September, Turkey and Russia agreed to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression would be strictly prohibited.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected severity.

Writing by Mahmoud Barakat

IDLIB, Syria

At least three civilians were killed Friday when Russian warplanes attacked residential areas in northern Syria’s de-escalation zones, according to the White Helmets civil-defense agency.

The airstrikes targeted the village of Kafar Aweed in Idlib province and the village of Tel Huwash in Hama province, the civil-defense agency said.

According to pro-opposition sources, the Russian aircraft took off from the Khmeimim airbase in Syria’s western Latakia province.

Last September, Turkey and Russia agreed to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression would be strictly prohibited.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected severity.

Writing by Mahmoud Barakat