In a continued campaign of terror and displacement, the Assad regime and its allies, Russia and Iran, have intensified their attacks on civilian populations in northwestern Syria. Despite possessing the capability to target military targets, these forces persist in striking non-combatants and civilian infrastructure, creating and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
On Tuesday, a drone operated by Assad regime forces targeted a civilian car in the town of Katyan, northeast of Idlib. While the vehicle was destroyed, no casualties were reported. This attack occurred less than 24 hours after a similar strike in the Aleppo countryside, where 13 civilians, including three children, were injured in two waves of bombings carried out on a crowded market using suicide drones.
The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, reported that the regime’s systematic use of “suicide” drones is terrorizing civilians in northwestern Syria. These drones threaten lives, disrupt daily activities, and impede movement and work, particularly in agricultural lands across the Aleppo, Idlib, and Ghab Plain regions.
The ongoing assault has been particularly severe in recent weeks, with regime forces escalating their attacks on the Idlib and Aleppo countrysides. The White Helmets have responded to 392 attacks by regime forces, Russia, and their allied militias in the first half of this year alone. These assaults have included 293 artillery attacks, 27 rocket launcher strikes, seven air raids by Russian warplanes, and three incidents involving incendiary weapons.
The use of suicide drones has become a hallmark of the regime’s tactics, with approximately 120 such attacks documented by the White Helmets this year. These drones are launched from areas occupied by Assad and his allies and are deliberately aimed at civilian populations, causing widespread fear and destruction.
On the night of Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, artillery shelling targeted residential neighborhoods in the city of Jisr al-Shughour in the western Idlib countryside. The attack resulted in injuries to four civilians, including a young girl and a woman. The psychological toll of these constant attacks by Assad forces is evident, with one woman requiring medical attention for shock due to the fear and tension caused by the bombardment.
In response to this ongoing aggression against civilians, revolutionary military factions have increased their infiltration operations and retaliatory strikes on the regime and allied military personnel, infrastructure, and targets. These retaliatory actions have intensified as groups aim to counter the regime’s offensive and disrupt its military operations.
Despite international condemnation, the Assad regime, supported by Russia and Iran, continues its relentless assault on the Syrian people. The targeting of civilians and the destruction of essential infrastructure have become key components of their strategy to maintain control and suppress opposition.
