Russia’s aerial campaign of terror has entered its third day. Russian airstrikes have intensified across northwestern Syria, with more than 50 raids conducted in under 72 hours, deepening the suffering of civilians caught in the ongoing conflict. The strikes, which have targeted residential areas, power stations, and essential infrastructure, have caused widespread destruction, displacement, and fear among the population.
The Russian aerial campaign began in full force on Monday, October 14, with over 25 airstrikes targeting key areas in Idlib and Latakia provinces. Villages such as Sheikh Sandyan, Al-Ghassaniyah, and Kinda in the Jisr al-Shughur countryside were bombed repeatedly, with residents reporting fear and panic as numerous jets circled the Syrian skies.
By Tuesday, October 15, the bombardment intensified. Six Russian Sukhoi aircraft carried out a relentless series of raids in the Idlib and Latakia countrysides, with more than 20 airstrikes recorded within an hour. The White Helmets, Syria’s Civil Defense organization, confirmed that civilians had been injured and critical infrastructure damaged. A Russian airstrike hit the Al-Kilani power station in the Darkoush countryside, igniting a fire and causing a blackout in the surrounding area.
David Carden, a member of a UN delegation visiting the region, expressed his alarm over the escalating violence. “Concerned by rising hostilities in north-west Syria,” Carden wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “Two airstrikes hit a power station in Idlib … Water stations serving numerous villages are now running on generators – but this is not sustainable. Civilian structures are not a target!”
The raids have continued today Wednesday, October 16, marking the third consecutive day of Russian attacks. Nine more raids targeted the Kabina hills north of Latakia and surrounding towns such as Arab Saeed, Basnqul, and Al-Bara in the Idlib countryside. According to local sources, these strikes have further crippled the region’s already fragile infrastructure, including power and water supplies, leaving civilians without basic services.
The scope of destruction and loss of life is staggering. The Response Coordinators Team reports that, since the beginning of 2024, Russian forces and their allies have targeted northwestern Syria more than 2,877 times. These attacks have claimed the lives of 48 civilians, including 6 women and 12 children, and injured 236 others, including 39 women and 91 children. The airstrikes have displaced thousands, compounding the misery of a region already ravaged by years of war.
On the ground, civilians now live in constant fear. Families are fleeing their homes as entire towns and villages come under fire, with more than 10,000 families displaced since the start of this latest offensive. The destruction of essential infrastructure, such as water stations and power grids, has left many without clean drinking water, electricity, or medical care, as aid groups struggle to reach affected areas.
The latest Russian air campaign appears to be aimed not only at military targets but at civilian infrastructure crucial for survival. The Al-Kilani power station, which supplies electricity to the Ain Al-Zarqa water station, has been rendered inoperable by repeated strikes, leaving 17 villages in the Jabal Al-Wastani area without water. Local officials warn that the region could face a humanitarian disaster if services are not quickly restored.
The Syrian Civil Defense also reported that a residential house and an uninhabited school in the town of Kafridin were destroyed by airstrikes, further heightening fears among the local population. Although no casualties were reported in that specific incident, the destruction of civilian property has become a hallmark of this campaign, sowing terror and uncertainty among the people.
The Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) has also appealed to the Al-Fath Al-Mubin Operations Room, a coalition of rebel forces in the region, to take decisive action to protect civilians and their property. In a statement on Tuesday, the SSG emphasized the need to hold Russian and regime forces accountable for their actions.
“These indiscriminate attacks threaten regional stability and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis,” the statement read. “We call on Al-Fath Al-Mubin to take immediate action to protect civilians and their property from further harm.”
As the Russian air campaign shows no signs of abating, the humanitarian situation in northern Syria continues to deteriorate. Aid organizations are struggling to meet the growing needs of displaced families, and the destruction of key infrastructure is making life increasingly untenable for those who remain in the region.
With over 50 airstrikes in less than three days, the people of northern Syria are bracing for what many fear could be a prolonged and deadly escalation of violence, further intensifying the region’s long-standing suffering.
