Dozens of Civilians Killed in Airstrikes by Russian & Assad Regime Air Forces on Aleppo, Idlib and Hama Provinces on Friday

Press release

Syrian Coalition

Department of Media and Communications

August 11, 2018

The Russian air force on Friday carried out intensive airstrikes on Ildib, Aleppo, and Hama provinces. An airstrike hit the town of Urem al-Kubra in western rural Aleppo, killing at least 20 civilians and injuring dozens more.

The Syrian Coalition condemns these crimes as it holds Russia fully responsible for them and for the brutal attacks targeting towns and villages in Idlib, Aleppo and Hama.

Dozens of airstrikes and barrel bomb attacks also targeted the towns of Tammna’a, Latamina, Al-Tih, Saraqib, and Khan Sheikhoun in southern rural Idlib, killing at least eight civilians and wounding many others. Regime forces also shelled villages near the town of Jisr Al-Shughour in western rural Idlib with the white phosphorus.

The Syrian Coalition warns the international community of the dire consequences of giving the Assad regime, Russia and the Iranian militias a free hand against civilians in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo. It also warns of the danger of exploiting the blood and lives of civilians on the political solution.

Recent developments require urgent international intervention to put an end to these heinous attacks and the ongoing crimes and violations of the international resolutions on cease-fire and the ‘de-escalation zones’ agreements. The fate of hundreds of thousands of civilians is in serious danger as the consequences of these terrorist attacks will be unprecedented.

The Syrian Coalition calls upon the UN Security Council to take immediate action and adopt a resolution directed at Russia to condemn its crimes against the Syrian people. Appropriate measures needs to urgently taken to put an end to the war crimes Russia is committing, sponsoring or seeking to cover up, including the crimes involving the use of chemical weapons.

The UN Security Council is also required to ensure accountability for the crimes Russia, the Assad regime, and the Iranian militias are committing against Syrian civilians as well as for everyone who is responsible for crimes against the Syrian people.