Aftermath of pro-Assad shelling on a market in Kafranbel, Idlib Province, northwest Syria, April 4, 2019

More than 20 civilians have been killed by Assad regime shelling on Idlib Province in northwest Syria.

The attacks on Wednesday and Thursday were the deadliest in weeks, following an escalation of the regime’s assaults in mid-February, slaying scores of people and breaking a demilitarized zone declared by Russia and Turkey last September.

Syria Daily: Russian Bombing and Regime Incendiary Attacks on Idlib

The deadliest strike was on a crowded market in Kafranbel, killing at least 12 civilians. Saraqeb, Ma’arat al-Num’an, Jarjanaz, and Khan Sheikhoun — which was attacked with sarin exactly two years ago, with about 90 dead and hundreds injured — were also targeted.

Local activists claim cluster munitions, banned under international law, were used.

The Assad regime’s news agency SANA made no reference to civilian deaths but asserted that the military “sent rocket strikes against dens of terrorists near Ma’arat al-Numan in Idleb northern countryside, inflicting the terrorists heavy losses”.

The hardline Islamist bloc Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham said on Wednesday that it retaliated by striking the pro-Assad paramilitary “Tiger Forces” with an anti-tank rocket in northern Hama. HTS said five troops were killed, including a regimental leader.

The regime has never adhered to the 15 to 20-km wide and 100-km long zone around Idlib and northern Hama Provinces, shelling towns on the periphery. But in the past six weeks, the attacks have intensified, with at least 47 people killed in a 10-day period in February.

Russia has occasionally joined with airstrikes, including on Idlib city, despite its proclamation of the zone. Moscow uses the pretext that it is attacking “terorrists”.

Earlier this week, Russian officials provided cover for the regime with the lie that French and Belgian intelligence services are assisting White Helmets rescuers in staging “false flag” chemical attacks in Idlib.

Syria Daily, March 14: Russia Bombs Idlib City for 1st Time in Months, Killing 15
Syria Daily, March 30: Russia’s Lie — France and Belgium Planning Chemical Attacks in Idlib