At least 25 people were killed in airstrikes across northwestern Syria, according to the White Helmets, a rescue organization operating in opposition-held territories. The strikes, carried out by Russian and Syrian forces, targeted the rebel-controlled city of Idlib and surrounding areas on Sunday, the group reported early Monday.
Military sources confirmed the airstrikes, which come as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reiterated his intent to crush insurgents advancing on the city of Aleppo. The Syrian army announced it had regained several towns recently seized by rebel forces.
Civilians Among the Casualties
One of the deadliest attacks struck a densely populated residential area in the center of Idlib. This city, part of a rebel stronghold near the Turkish border, is home to approximately four million people, many of whom live in precarious conditions in makeshift shelters.
Rescuers on the scene reported at least seven fatalities and dozens of injuries in the attack on Idlib’s residential district. The Syrian army and its Russian ally maintain that their operations target insurgent hideouts and deny intentionally striking civilians.
Among those killed in Sunday’s strikes were ten children, according to the White Helmets. The organization also reported that the total death toll from Syrian and Russian airstrikes since November 27 has risen to 56, including 20 children.
Rebels Push Forward Amid Escalation
The insurgents in the region include a coalition of Turkey-backed armed groups and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a faction designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Russia, Turkey, and other nations.
In recent days, rebel forces launched one of their most significant offensives in years, seizing full control of Idlib province. This marks the boldest rebel advance in a civil war where front lines had remained largely static since 2020.
International Calls for De-escalation
The intensifying violence has drawn condemnation from the international community. In a joint statement, the United States, France, Germany, and Britain called for “de-escalation by all parties” and urged for the protection of civilians and infrastructure. The statement emphasized the need to avoid further displacement and disruption of humanitarian aid.
The situation in Idlib remains critical, as airstrikes and ground offensives threaten to exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The latest escalation underscores the fragility of the conflict, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions since it began over a decade ago.
