Syria death toll passes 200 as Russia continues brutal 'revenge attacks' on opposition towns
Syria death toll passes 200 as Russia continues brutal 'revenge attacks' on opposition towns
Syrian opposition territories around Damascus and in Idlib have been subjected to ferocious airstrikes by regime and Russian planes for a fourth day.
2 min read
More than 200 people have died in four days of horrific airstrikes on Syrian opposition areas, in what are being described as "revenge attacks" by Moscow for the downing of a Russian plane on Saturday.
Bombing of the opposition enclave of Eastern Ghouta and Idlib province on Thursday killed 58 civilians, bringing the death toll since Monday to at least 207.
Moscow's war planes are believed to have taken part in air strikes with the Syrian regime on Thursday, which coincided with the funeral of a Russian airman who was killed after his Su-25 bomber was downed over Idlib this weekend.
As tens of thousands of Russians turned up for the memorial to Major Roman Filipov, air strikes hit Idlib province and the densely-packed Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, killing at least 12 children.
"People here believe Russia is taking revenge after its plane was shot down by the rebels and its pilot killed," Hazem Shami, an opposition activist told Al Jazeera.
Air strikes on opposition territories have intensified since the weekend, giving credence to Syrian theories that recent bombing is Moscow's revenge for their deceased pilot.
Tuesday was the bloodiest day in Syria since the April 2017 Khan Sheikhoun chemical massacre took place, when more than 100 civilians died in a regime sarin gas attack on the Idlib village.
Eighty people were killed in Syrian opposition areas on Tuesday and 60 on Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
Agencies contributed to this story.
More In News
