Three civilians, including a married couple and another woman, were killed Tuesday as Assad regime forces and their allies intensified artillery shelling in the town of Iblin, located in the southern countryside of Idlib. This latest attack comes amid a ceaseless surge in violence that has prompted increased displacement from towns and villages along the lines of contact in the northern Syrian countryside of Idlib and Aleppo.
The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, reported that their ambulance teams swiftly evacuated the injured to a local hospital and confirmed no additional casualties in the immediate aftermath. The shelling marks a continued pattern of violence that has worsened the humanitarian crisis in these conflict-ridden regions.
On Monday, the Assad regime’s artillery targeted densely populated areas in southern Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo, further straining the already dire conditions for civilians. Observatories in northwestern Syria reported that regime forces fired on the vicinity of Benin and Deir Sunbul in the Jabal al-Zawiya region, instilling widespread panic among local residents.
Additionally, reports indicated that troops stationed at the 46th Regiment launched an intensive bombardment campaign on the outskirts of Al-Qasr, Kafr Ammah, Kafr Taal, and Tadil in the western Aleppo countryside, employing heavy artillery fire.
The recent intensification of military operations has exacerbated the crisis of internal displacement with residents who had only recently returned to their homes following a brief lull in violence, forced to flee once again. Humanitarian organizations expressed additional concern due to the onset of winter, further complicating providing adequate aid and increasing the difficulties for IDPs.
The Syrian Response Coordinators team (SRC) highlighted that the recent military offensives have broadened to include residential areas and farmland, compelling civilians to seek refuge in safer zones and overcrowded camps far from the hostilities. This escalation has already led to additional casualties and injuries.
According to data from the SRC, in a single 48-hour period, more than 1,843 people were displaced from 37 towns and villages in the western Aleppo countryside and eastern and southern Idlib. Women and children have been disproportionately affected, representing 81% of those forced to flee.
The organization warned that the ongoing conflict is increasing the influx of IDPs and worsening living conditions in overcrowded camps, further straining humanitarian resources. Continued instability has significantly impacted access to basic needs, healthcare, and safety for the displaced. The situation remains critical, with local and international aid organizations calling for a halt to hostilities to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
