In the latest, in a wave of attacks on civilians, children at an elementary school in the village of Afes in Idlib province, Syria, were victims of a devastating attack. Assad regime forces, backed by Russian support, unleashed a barrage of heavy artillery, missile, and mortar shelling the village following initial attacks on the Al-Shuhda School, injuring students and a teacher. The assault has once again brought to light the harrowing reality faced by civilians, especially children, in war-torn Syria.
The Syrian Civil Defense, better known as the White Helmets, a volunteer organization renowned for its humanitarian efforts in Syria, swiftly responded to the crisis. Their teams provided crucial first aid to the injured and facilitated their transportation to the hospital for further medical attention.
The Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) condemned the attack in a statement, denouncing the criminal actions of the Assad regime’s militias. The SSG highlighted the deliberate targeting of the Al-Shuhada School, which resulted in injuries to both students and teaching staff. The assault not only caused physical harm but also inflicted significant damage to the school itself, disrupting the education of countless children.
SSG Minister of Education, Professor Nazir al-Qadiri expressed his anger, “The criminal regime targets a school in the town of Afes, east of Idlib, during the students’ official working hours!” Qadari said, the initial injuries in the targeted school were five, a teacher and four students, two of whom were in serious condition.
In response to this heinous act, the Al-Fatah Mubeen operations room took action, targeting a Russian-made ZIL military transport vehicle near the occupied city of Saraqib. This retaliatory strike resulted in the destruction of the vehicle and the loss of life among its occupants. The statement from the SSG also shed light on the ongoing atrocities faced by the residents of Afes and its surrounding villages, emphasizing the relentless targeting of civilians and the alarming toll it has taken on innocent lives.
The attack on the Al-Shuhda School serves as a stark reminder of the continued suffering endured by the people of Syria. The deliberate targeting of educational institutions and the resulting harm to children and educators is an affront to the fundamental rights of civilians in conflict zones. The international community must not turn a blind eye to such atrocities and should work tirelessly to bring an end to the cycle of violence and suffering in Syria.
