Destruction from an Assad regime attack on Darat Izza in Aleppo Province in northwest Syria, December 17, 2023
UPDATE, JAN 2:
The Assad regime has started the New Year with more deadly shelling of civilians in northwest Syria.
In Darat Izza in Aleppo Province, three civilians were killed and four injured, including a child and an infant.
In the villages of Kabashin and Burj Haidar in western Aleppo, two men and a woman were killed and seven injured, including three children and two women.
Damage to civilian property and public facilities (an electricity utility, a bakery, a mosque, and a market) in the city of Darat Izza, west of #Aleppo, as a result of artillery and missile shelling by regime forces, today, Monday, January 1. The attack killed 3 civilians and… pic.twitter.com/ucIlNPcjoi
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) January 1, 2024
UPDATE, DEC 31:
The Assad regime continues to kill civilians in northwest Syria, regularly shelling civilian areas.
In the latest attacks, a 43-year-old shopowner and a 16-year-old student were slain on Saturday in Idlib city. Another 16 people, including four children, were injured.
Syria: last night Assad's forces killed more civilians after they bombed Idlib-city with heavy artillery:
– Zaid (16) was a student
– Mahmud (43) was a shop owner. pic.twitter.com/JZL0TcLEfD— QalaatM (@QalaatM) December 31, 2023
Scenes from a horrific night of bloodshed and destruction after artillery bombardment by Syrian regime forces targeted a marketplace in #Idlib city center this evening, Saturday, December 30th. The attack resulted in the deaths of 2 civilians (a child and a man) and the injury of… pic.twitter.com/4WoNgL7l44
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) December 30, 2023
Shelling was also reported on Sarmin, east of Idlib, and on al-Jinah in Aleppo Province.
ORIGINAL ENTRY, DEC 18:
Assad regime attacks on parts of northwest Syria on Sunday killed five civilians, including a child and a woman pregnant with twins, and wounded 20.
The regime’s latest missile and artillery bombardment was on Darat Azza, west of regime-held Aleppo city, and on opposition-held Idlib city.
The five fatalities were in Darat Azza. Five civilians were injured, including two children. Idlib’s 15 wounded included five children and a woman.
The desperate cries of a child after her and her father were injured in a missile strike by Syrian regime forces on #Idlib city today, injuring 15 people, including 5 children and a woman.#Syria #WhiteHelmets pic.twitter.com/rIVGDvKsJy
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) December 17, 2023
Most of northwest Syria, including Idlib and Aleppo Provinces, was held by opposition groups following the mass protests against the Assad regime in March 2011.
Enabled by Russia and Iran, the regime regained Syria’s largest city Aleppo in December 2016 after months of siege, ground assaults, and bombing that levelled infrastructure, including most medical facilities.
After an 11-month Russia-regime offensive that seized all of northern Hama and part of Idlib Province, a ceasefire divided the northwest between the regime and Turkish-backed groups. However, Russia and Assad forces have continued their assaults on civilians.
See also Assad Regime and Russia Killing Women and Children in Attacks on NW Syria
In the aftermath of the devastating bombing by Syrian regime forces today on the city of Darat Azza, #WhiteHelmets volunteer Ali Obaid bids farewell to his father… A companion, mentor, and supporter. pic.twitter.com/9Mkw5dsakn
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) December 18, 2023
