Assad militias kill, injure civilians in Idlib despite claimed ceasefire

Assad regime's militias shelled the demilitarized zone (DMZ) of Idlib countryside on Monday (January 13), killing and injuring civilians and causing material damage, violating a ceasefire announced by Russia and Turkish Defense Ministry on the 9th and 12th of January, Orient correspondent said. 

Assad rockets targeted on Monday afternoon al-Dana town in Idlib countryside, killing a civilian. 

Meanwhile, Assad artillery shells  targeted Maarat al-Nuaman city, injuring three civilians. 

On Sunday, Assad artillery shells and rockets targeted several villages and towns in Idlib countryside, including Maarat al-Nuaman city, Maar Shurin village and Talmenes village, causing material damage.

On Saturday, Assad warplanes and helicopters intensified bombardment on the demilitarized zone (DMZ) of Idlib province, killing 20 civilians, including 10 children and injuring 97 others, including 32 children and 25 women, violating a ceasefire announced by Russia on the 9th of January.  

Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday announced a ceasefire, taking effect in the region at 02.00 p.m. local time (1200GMT).

On Friday, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that Turkey and Russia had agreed on a cease-fire in Idlib set to start at midnight on Jan. 12.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights SNHR documented in its report released on (January 1) 43 massacres committed by Assad regime's militias and 22 massacres committed by Russian forces in 2019.

The report documented the deaths of 3,364 civilians in 2019, including 842 children and 486 women at the hands of the perpetrator parties to the conflict in Syria, including 234 in December.

Bombing by Russian-backed Assad militias in Syria has displaced more than 379,000 Syrians since last November.

More than 1 million Syrian IDPs live in 1395 camps in Northern Syria, of whom 121,832 IDPs live in 242 random camps, Mohammad Hallaj told Orient Net earlier this week.