Russian Air Strikes take out Turkish Supported Rebels in Idlib, Assad Forces take out ISIS militants.
Reports: Air Strikes conducted in recent days that killed dozens in Northwestern Syria were blamed on Russia.
Massive airstrikes on a rebel camp in Jabal al-Dweila Idlib province, “wasn’t a Russian attack on the Syrian opposition as much as it was a direct hit against – and message to – Turkey”, Charles Lister, director of the US-based Middle East Institute, told Al Jazeera.
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, RFE/RL’s Russian Service report confirmed Lister’s conclusions.
At least 78 rebels and were killed and dozens of civilians wounded according to SOHR. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, put the number of dead at 78, with nearly 90 wounded.
27 October, according to the SOHR, escalation of fierce clashes between regime forces and loyal militias on the one hand, and Islamic State members on the other, broke out on multiple fronts. The number of fatalities among regime forces and loyalists reached 39, while ISIS lost 22 members so far.
“Reliable sources have told SOHR that regime forces, stationed in Al-Hemdan airbase on the outskirts of Al-Bokamal city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, shelled positions in the southern desert of the city, paving the way for infantry troops which are still sweeping the Syrian desert, searching for ISIS cells.
Over 25 Russian fighter jets were seen flying over the area and executing several airstrikes, targeting ISIS positions in Itherya area in the eastern countryside of Hama. Moreover, four helicopters threw barrel bombs on the area. However, no casualties have been reported so far.
After Russia and Turkey announced the de escalation in the Spring, Turkey said it reserved the right to “retaliate with all its strength” against any attack by forces allied to Assad, RFE/RL added.
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.