Two civilians were killed and several others were injured in Russian airstrikes targeting an old water pumping station in the northeastern region of Syria, according to paramedics on Wednesday.
According to the French Press Agency, two airstrikes struck late Tuesday near the town of Ain Shib, west of Idlib city, hitting the old station where displaced Syrians reside.
Rami al-Dandul, a volunteer with the White Helmets organization, stated, “An elderly man and an 18-year-old boy were killed… and five other civilians, including a girl, a boy, and a woman, were injured.”
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the airstrikes near Ain Shib targeted “military positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham,” the extremist faction that controls the area, confirming the same death toll.
Another airstrike targeted the town of Ariha, south of Idlib city, later in the night, as reported by both a correspondent and the observatory.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly known as Al-Nusra Front, affiliated with Al-Qaeda) holds sway over extensive areas in the Idlib province and adjacent regions in Latakia, Hama, and Aleppo.
The group consistently launches ruthless attacks against Syrian soldiers and pro-Damascus forces, while Russian forces conduct repeated airstrikes on the Idlib region.
On Monday, 13 members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham were killed due to Russian airstrikes targeting a military headquarters affiliated with the group in Idlib, according to the observatory.
Since 2011, Syria has been grappling with a devastating conflict that has resulted in the deaths of over half a million people, widespread infrastructure destruction, and the displacement of millions both within and beyond its borders.
