Northern Syria has seen a sharp rise in hostilities and attacks against civilians by Russian forces and the Assad regime, according to a recent report from the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets. The organization has documented a new pattern of aggression involving suicide drones targeting civilian areas, underscoring the need for international attention and intervention.
Since the beginning of 2024, the White Helmets have responded to 41 attacks using suicide drones, primarily targeting civilian environments in the northwestern regions of Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo. These attacks, launched from areas controlled by the Assad regime, have killed three civilians and injured 18 others, including a woman and four children.
The White Helmets report that these drones have caused extensive property damage and disrupted the livelihoods of residents, particularly by preventing access to agricultural lands, thus exacerbating food insecurity in the region.
Despite the high precision capabilities of suicide drones, their use by regime forces has not reduced civilian casualties or infrastructure damage. Instead, the ease of constructing these drones has led to an increase in their deployment. The White Helmets documented that half of the attacks targeted civilian vehicles, causing widespread fear and instability.
The relentless attacks have taken a severe toll on the civilian population. The White Helmets have recorded several specific instances where suicide drones caused civilian casualties. On February 22, a drone attack injured a man and his two children in Idlib. In March, a drone strike killed a sheep herder and a tractor driver in Aleppo. These incidents highlight the indiscriminate nature of the attacks and their impact on everyday life.
In addition to drone attacks, Russian airstrikes have intensified in the Idlib countryside. On July 10, Russian fighters launched multiple raids with vacuum missiles, targeting various locations, On July 10 and 11, Russian fighters conducted multiple raids, targeting the following areas: Western outskirts of Idlib city, outskirts of the village of Sheikh Sindiyan, west of Idlib, northern countryside of Latakia, near the village of Ghassaniyyah, different areas within the Idlib region, with ongoing intense flights over the region vicinity of Jisr al-Shughur.
Among the targets hit were a water station, high school, and forested areas, causing terror throughout the region. These raids also caused the destruction of infrastructure and increased the region’s instability.
An elderly woman lost consciousness due to fear during a Russian airstrike near the village of al-Hamamah. The White Helmets rushed her to a hospital. In another account, related by the group, a previously injured man left behind his crutch in a desperate attempt to flee a midnight raid. He had relied on the crutch since a previous Russian airstrike a year ago, which had left him severely injured.
The White Helmets have urged the international community to address the use of Syria as a testing ground for new weapons and the ongoing impunity for crimes committed by the regime and Russian forces. The organization warns that the disregard for human life and international humanitarian law in Syria poses a broader threat that extends beyond the country’s borders.
