New Wave Of Russian Airstrikes Kill, Or Wound 19 In Syria’s Greater Idlib (Photos)

A Russian Su-24 strike aircraft in the sky over the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. Photo: Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti

On September 8, Su-24 and Su-34 fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out more than 12 airstrikes on the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib.

The airstrikes targeted positions of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the de-facto ruler of the region, near the towns of Hafsarjah, Sheikh Yousef, Sijer and Ghafar in the western countryside of Idlib.

According to Western-backed White Helmets organization, the airstrikes claimed the lives of seven people and wounded at least 12 others. Considering the nature of the targets, it is possible that at least some of the casualties were members of HTS.

The airstrikes were most likely a response to recent violations of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib, which was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than two years ago.

Over the past week, the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria reported the death of four soldiers of the SAA as a result of indirect fire attacks launched from Greater Idlib by HTS or its allies. At least four other soldiers were wounded.

This was the first wave of Russian airstrikes to hit Greater Idlib this month. In August, two series of airstrikes targeted the region. Several headquarters, drone bases and ammunition depots of HTS were destroyed. Dozens of the terrorist group’s militants were also reportedly killed.

Despite the unstable situation in Greater Idlib, the ceasefire is still holding up. Maintaining credible military pressure on HTS and its allies appears to be the only way to enforce the ceasefire and prevent a full-on confrontation in the strategic region.

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