UN 'deeply concerned' by escalating violence in Syria's Idlib

UN 'deeply concerned' by escalating violence in Syria's Idlib
The UN has called on sides to respect the ceasefire in Idlib and work to protect civilians.
2 min read
24 July, 2021
48 people have been killed in Russian and Syrian regime attacks since the beginning of July [Getty]

The United Nations have sounded the alarm over increasing  violence in northwestern Syria, and the risk that it poses to civilians. 

The deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Farhan Haq, said that recent fighting in the region has killed and injured dozens of civilians, including women and children. 

"The latest reports indicate that shelling in Beiyloun village in southern rural Idlib on Thursday killed seven civilians, including three children. Seven other civilians were injured, including a girl," said Haq. 

"Such attacks raise further concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law, which requires the parties to take all feasible precautions to avoid and minimise civilian harm," he continued. 

The northwestern region of Syria has been ruled by a de-escalation agreement between Russia and Turkey since 2020, but frequent violations occur. 

According to the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, regime and Russian violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Idlib countryside have killed 48 people, including women and children, and wounded 45 others, since the beginning of July. 

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Angered by these violations, civilians in Idlib and Aleppo demonstrated on Friday, and called on the Turkish guarantor of the ceasefire to put an end to the Russian and regime bombardment of the Jabal al-Zawiya area, south of Idlib. 

Demonstration took place in Kafr Lusin, Armanaz, Taftanaz, Mutaram, and Al-Mastouma in the Idlib countryside, in addition to the city of Azaz, in the Aleppo countryside.