Syria hit by Russia air strikes once again

At least 45 people have been killed in formerly rebel-held Latakia

Image Source: AP

Syria: Monday afternoon saw northeastern Syria being seized by the Russian Air Force, in aerial bombings, that have left at least 45 people killed and hundreds of others injured. Jabal al-Akrad, the mountainous region in Latakia province, had been under rebel control ever since a siege in 2012. Amongst the deceased are the families of several rebels, alongside the commander of a Free Syria Army brigade.

While Russia claimed to have targeted IS pockets in the province, activists countered the claim by bringing to light the fact that Latakia has next to no IS presence, since it is controlled by President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite Sect. Through meticulous targeting, the rebels controlled not only the airport, but also the president’s ancestral village, Qardaha. The city is Jabal al- Akrad has been under attack on multiple occasions in the last few weeks, owing to Russia’s announcement of efforts on September 30 to aid the President.

At the same time, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK, has stated that the number of dead are expected to rise, because many of the wounded are in critical condition. Although sources hold the death toll to be above 50, it has been said that the attack was limited to a village, Bisharfeh, wherein the casualties involve several women and children. The deceased Commander, a former Captain in the Syrian Army was the second such casualty on Monday, along with another Commander who was killed in Aleppo in government offensives that have led to the displacement of nearly 10,000 civilians. The Division in Latakia was believed to have been supplied with American- made infantry.

This attack comes as a part of the Majuscule Syrian war, which has been raging in the Middle East for four years now and has led to loss of lives of nearly 250.000 Syrians and injury to a million others. There is involvement in the war from the US-led coalition, backed by countries like France and Australia, while on the other hand, the Soviet front supports the President.

Source: BBC

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