At least nine killed in Russian air strikes in Syria’s Idlib

25-Jun-2023

At least nine civilians were killed and more than 34 wounded after Russian warplanes carried out numerous air strikes on Idlib in northwestern Syria, including a market crowded with shoppers.

At least nine civilians were killed and more than 34 wounded after Russian warplanes carried out numerous air strikes on Idlib in northwestern Syria, including a market crowded with shoppers, according to a group of emergency rescue volunteers.

The attack on Sunday targeted a vegetable market in the city of Jisr al-Shughour city, in the eastern Idlib countryside, said the Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets.

A local monitor told Al Jazeera that two Russian Su-24s targeted Idlib city, Benin town and the al-Arbeen mountain area with five strikes, while a Russian Su-34  hit the market in Jisr al-Shughour.

“During our work today at the vegetable market, we were startled by an air strike that targeted the market where we were present, turning [it] into a pool of blood and the remains of victims,” said Reda Hayshid, a 21-year-old vegetable vendor.

Ahmed Yazji, who is on the Syria Civil Defence’s board of directors, said: “In general, the Syrian regime and Russian attacks on the region have witnessed an escalation in the last few days, which puts a huge burden on our work because both [Syrian President Bashar al-] Assad and Russia are known to double attack areas where we are present while trying to rescue the victims and the injured.”