BALADI NEWS
The U.S. on Tuesday condemned Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes in the city of Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province that struck civilian residences and a marketplace, the Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak wrote Wednesday.
"These repeated attacks demonstrate that the Assad regime and its allies continue to believe in and pursue a military solution to this conflict," spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. "These strikes are an act of desperation."
Russian jets struck a marketplace in Maarat Al-Numan on Monday morning, killing 39 civilians, including a White Helmets volunteer, sources from the civil defense agency told Anadolu Agency.
Assad regime warplanes, meanwhile, struck a marketplace in Saraqib in rural Idlib, local sources in the field told Anadolu Agency. The regime airstrike left at least seven civilians dead and dozens of others wounded, they added.
The Russian Defense Ministry, however, denied its forces targeted a marketplace, saying Russian warplanes had not carried out any missions in the area.
But the U.S. adamantly placed blame on Moscow and Damascus for the attacks.
"Attacks by Russia and the Assad regime also continue to kill and maim humanitarians such as ambulance drivers, health workers, and White Helmets volunteers," said Ortagus. "We call on Russia and the Assad regime to return to a ceasefire in the area, and allow for unhindered access to address the humanitarian disaster created by the airstrikes."
Source: Yeni Safak.