The Syrian regime and allied militia groups have killed three children in Maaret Elnaasan at the north-western city of Idlib.
Regime and militia forces opened fire from their position in the village of Kafr Halab in the Aleppo Governorate, towards the village of Maaret Elnaasan, northwest of Idlib city.
This attack coincided with four separate air strikes by Russian planes on areas south of Idlib city, marking a new violation of the ceasefire agreement.
In May 2017, Turkey, Russia and Iran announced an agreement to establish a “de-escalation zone” in Idlib and parts of the Aleppo, Hama and Latakia governorates, as part of the so-called Astana peace talks.
However, the Syrian regime’s forces and their supporters have continued hostilities in Idlib, despite having signed a ceasefire agreement signed on 5 March 2020.
The civil war has been fought in Syria since 18 March 2011, when the Syrian regime launched a brutal crackdown against protests condemning human rights violations in the country.
Over the past years, the Syrian regime has granted citizenship to numerous members of Iran-affiliated groups, in return for their participation in the war the regime has waged against the opposition since 2011.
Millions of displaced people live in camps in north and northwest Syria, after fleeing the regime’s bombing of their villages, towns and cities.
