The Syrian regime fired a rocket into a market in Idlib this morning killing 11 including children.
According to the civil defence group the White Helmets, 11 civilians were killed, including four children and a woman, when “regime forces and Russia” attacked a public market in the centre of the town of Ariha, on the outskirts of Idlib, an area under opposition control.
Zahra is a five years old girl. She was one of the victims of the Ariha massacre, she was injured when she was with her father and cousin in the market. Zahra survived, but her father was killed, while her cousin was seriously injured. #WhiteHelmets pic.twitter.com/0r7Q37dpZ8
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) October 20, 2021
Medical sources in the town told the Anadolu Agency that 35 civilians were injured in the attack, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHD) reported that the attack left at least 13 dead and another 24 wounded, and “the deaths are expected to increase because the attack happened when children were going to schools and adults to work.”
According to the NGO, this was the “biggest massacre” in Idlib province since the ceasefire agreed by Damascus’ ally Russia with opposition ally Turkey in March 2020. The area has been the subject of multiple ceasefire agreements, which are frequently violated by the Syrian regime and its allies.
These little girls were going to school to learn and to get their right in education but that turned to be a nightmare. Some were killed and others witnessed their colleagues dying, no child should go through never.#WhiteHelmets pic.twitter.com/Aw4mQIDloT
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) October 20, 2021
On Tuesday, SOHR activists reported new air strikes by Russian jets, following the suspension of air operations for a week. Russian fighter jets executed three air strikes on the perimeter of the Turkish military post at Al-Barah in Jabal Al-Zawiyah in the southern countryside of Idlib, while Russian missiles hit positions a few metres away from the Turkish post. No casualties were reported.