Syrian Coalition Warns Int’l Community of Dangers of Assad Regime & Russia’s Military Escalation in Idlib Province

Press release

Syrian Coalition

Media Department

June 10, 2018

Two days following the horrible massacre the Russian air force committed in Idlib province, the Assad regime’s air force on June 10 raided the towns of Taftanaz, Binnsh, and Ariha as well as other villages in rural Idlib. The airstrikes killed at least 14 people, including children and women, and injured dozens more.

The airstrikes targeted a children's hospital in the town of Taftanaz, putting it out of service. Assad regime's helicopters also launched barrel bomb attacks in parallel with rocket and artillery shelling targeting many areas of Idlib province.

The death toll is likely to rise as search and rescue operations are still ongoing, with rescue workers operating in very difficult conditions to dig out victims trapped under the rubble.

These crimes have once again exposed the real intentions of the Assad regime and its backers and their insistence on carrying on with plans to kill, displace and annihilate the Syrian people. These crimes are being committed against civilians in areas that are covered by the ‘de-escalation zones’ agreement. The Syrian Coalition warns the United Nations and the UN Security Council of the dangers of these grave developments as it calls for urgent action to deter any further military escalation in Idlib province; prevent the targeting of civilians; and ensure protection for them.

The Coalition renews calls on the world’s major powers and friendly countries to assume their responsibilities to stop the crimes being committed in Syria. Urgent action needs to be taken to enforce the UN Security Council resolutions demanding an end to the killings, the release of detainees, and the achievement of a political transition in accordance with the Geneva Communique of 2012 and the relevant Security Council resolutions.