Russian Air Strikes Take out Turkish Supported Rebels in Idlib, Syria
Reports: Russian Air Strikes Kill Dozens In Northwestern Syria
Suspected Russian air strikes on a camp in northwestern Syria run by Turkish-backed militia fighters have reportedly killed at least 50 people and wounded scores of others.
Youssef Hammud, a spokesman for Syrian opposition groups, blamed Russia for the October 26 air strikes in the mainly rebel-held province of Idlib that targeted a military training camp for the Islamist group Faylaq Al-Sham.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of dead at 78, with nearly 90 wounded.
The group said it suspected that the air strike in the Harem region northwest of Idlib City was carried out by Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s main ally in the country’s nine-year-long civil war.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow or Ankara, which although they support opposite sides in the conflict, have worked together to maintain a cease-fire in Idlib Province.
The strike was said to be the deadliest in Idlib since the truce came into effect in March, bringing to a halt a Syrian government offensive on the region.
After the cease-fire was announced, Turkey said it reserved the right to “retaliate with all its strength” against any attack by forces allied to Assad. RFE/RL
NOTE: Moscow Times confirmed the above report by RFE:
Airstrikes by Damascus regime ally Russia killed 78 Turkey-backed rebels in northwestern Syria on Monday, a monitor said, in the bloodiest surge in violence since a truce almost eight months ago.
More than 90 others were wounded when Russian warplanes targeted a training camp of the Faylaq al-Sham faction in the Jabal Duwayli area in Idlib province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian surveillance aircraft monitoring the sky observed the following attacks in four days time this week.
22 Oct. In the Idlib de-escalation zone, 40 attacks were recorded from the positions of the “Jabhat al-Nusra” terrorist group (including 34 attacks according to the Syrian side) in the provinces of Idlib (27 attacks), Aleppo (4 attacks), Latakia (8 attacks), Hama (1 attack).
23 Oct In the Idlib de-escalation zone, 33 attacks were recorded from the positions of the “Jabhat al-Nusra” terrorist group (including 30 attacks according to the Syrian side) in the provinces of Idlib (18 attacks), Aleppo (1 attack), Latakia (9 attacks), Hama (5 attacks).
24 Oct In the Idlib de-escalation zone, 32 attacks were recorded from the positions of the “Jabhat al-Nusra” terrorist group in the provinces of Idlib (24 attacks), Aleppo (3 attacks), and Latakia (5 attacks).
Oct 25 In the Idlib de-escalation zone, 38 attacks were recorded from the positions of the “Jabhat al-Nusra” terrorist group in the provinces of Idlib (15 attacks), Aleppo (3 attacks), Latakia (13 attacks), Hama (7 attacks).The Russian MOD calls on Turkey to control the rebel controlled Idlib and stop the rebel attacks.
Erdogan made his goal clear on 25 Oct.: “We have no aim in Iraq and Syria other than stopping threats against us and looking out for our brothers and sisters’ peace there. Recently, we have seen that the efforts for a new terrorist formation near the Iraqi border in Syria have been accelerated. Let me say this more clearly; there is an effort to establish a terror state there. I would like to say this without beating around the bush: Turkey will never allow the establishment of a terror state right beside its borders. We will do whatever is necessary and drain this swamp of terrorism.