Assad regime forces have intensified attacks on civilian areas in northwestern Syria, resulting in casualties and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure. Over the past several days, cities and towns across Idlib and Aleppo provinces have been bombarded with missiles, artillery, and FPV suicide drones, escalating fears of further displacement in the already fragile region.
In the city of Sarmin, located in the Idlib countryside, missile strikes injured two civilians on Monday, including a child. Civil Defense officials, also known as the White Helmets, reported that the attack caused significant destruction to civilian homes. Additional strikes targeted the outskirts of Al-Nayrab and Al-Bara in Idlib and the Al-Asous farms near Kafr Nouran, west of Aleppo, damaging civilian vehicles though no injuries were reported.
The escalation follows a series of deadly attacks, including an artillery strike on Monday night that killed a woman in the village of Arhab near Darat Izza in Aleppo’s western countryside. The White Helmets confirmed the woman’s death, noting that surrounding residential areas also came under attack. In Sarmin, a young girl and a man were injured as shelling hit residential buildings.
The White Helmets warned that “The continued targeting of civilian areas is setting the stage for a humanitarian disaster.” The group added that ongoing bombardments and drone attacks are violations of international law and could lead to new waves of displacement, overwhelming already strained resources.
The Assad regime has increasingly relied on suicide drones to target the western countryside of Aleppo, affecting villages such as Al-Qasr, Al-Wasata, Kafr Amma, and the countryside near Darat Izza. Local sources reported that on Sunday, October 27, regime forces deployed at least nine explosive-laden drones over the area, terrifying the public and causing extensive property damage.
Drone attacks also struck the town of Taqad the next day, October 26, igniting two vehicles and damaging residential property. This method of attack has intensified fears of the ongoing destruction of civilian areas, with drones reportedly sent in waves to devastate wider areas in single strikes.
The uptick in violence in northwestern Syria has forced families in affected towns to flee to areas closer to the Turkish border. The influx of displaced people has strained camps and IDP settlements that are already under-resourced, according to humanitarian organizations. Aid groups warn that without additional support, the region may face critical shortfalls, including food, medical care, and winter shelter. Local activists report that these attacks have disrupted daily life across Idlib and Aleppo, with schools and hospitals closed in heavily targeted areas.
