BALADI NEWS
A renewed regime offensive on the rebel-held pocket of Idlib in northwest Syria had brought warnings of such scenes in advance. The tactics are like those used by the Assad regime and its Russian allies to retake rebel parts of Syria, such as Aleppo in late 2016 and East Ghouta last year. They involve a ground offensive accompanied by demoralising bombing of civilian areas, in particular hospitals and clinics, more than 20 of which have been struck in Idlib in the past three weeks.
However, according to Russia, western diplomats and pro-regime media, the offensive is not even intended to retake the territory. Instead, it is merely a cleaning-up exercise to deter pinprick jihadist attacks on regime checkpoints and a Russian air base just to the south.
In pursuit of this limited objective, 134 children have been killed in the past few weeks of bombing, according to Unicef, the United Nations children agency. “Children bear no responsibility for this war yet they suffer its carnage and consequences more than anyone,” Henrietta Fore, Unicef’s executive director, said.
President Trump called on Russia and Syrian regime forces to halt all bombing in Idlib after the Kremlin made a statement on Friday signalling that it would continue to support the offensive in the region.
Mr Trump wrote on Twitter few days ago: “Hearing word that Russia, Syria and, to a lesser extent, Iran, are bombing the hell out of Idlib Province in Syria, and indiscriminately killing many innocent civilians. The World is watching this butchery. What is the purpose, what will it get you? STOP!”
Source: The Times.