Idlib: Continuous shelling and a large wave of displacement towards the Turkish border

The Syrian Civil Defense affirmed that the death toll from the regime’s and Russia’s bombardments in Idlib and its countryside during the past 24 hours has risen to 11 civilians, including children and women.

The Civil Defense added that since yesterday, Wednesday, these forces have bombed 13 districts in Idlib, and that Al-Shami field hospital in the city of Jericho was completely discharged after targeting three Russian air strikes.

For its part, the Russian Ministry of Defense denied targeting its flights to civilians in Idlib, and said in a statement that "Russian aircraft do not carry out any missions in the region," referring to the city of Idlib.

The statement added that "foreign media reports that talk about an alleged bombing by Russian aircraft this morning at a hospital and bakery near the city of Jericho (at the southern outskirts of Idlib) are inflammatory."

In a later development, the Turkish Chief of Staff said that Chief of Staff Yasar Gular had telephoned his Russian counterpart, Valery Gerasimov, to discuss recent developments in Idlib.

This comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Russia of not abiding by the agreements that aim to end violence in Syria, especially in Idlib.

"Unfortunately, Russia is now no longer committed to neither Astana nor to Sochi," Erdogan said, referring to the understandings signed between the two countries in 2017 and 2018 regarding the Syrian crisis.

He added that "Turkey is running out of patience with regard to the bombing of Idlib, and will do what we deem necessary if Russia does not stop the attacks by the Syrian government forces on Idlib."

It is noteworthy that the regime forces and Russia's military campaign against Idlib and its countryside caused the displacement of tens of thousands to the border with Turkey.

In May 2017, Turkey, Russia and Iran reached a "de-escalation zone" agreement in Idlib, within the framework of the Astana meetings on Syrian affairs.

Despite subsequent understandings made to stabilize the ceasefire in Idlib, the last of which is in January, regime forces and their supporters continue to launch attacks in the area, killing more than 1,500 civilians, and displacing more than a million others to relatively quiet or near areas. From the Turkish border, since September 17, 2018.

The population of Idlib Governorate is approximately four million, and it has 1150 camps for the displaced who came to it from other regions in Syria to escape the battles.