"Russian Airstrikes... Over 70 Pro-Turkish Rebels Killed in Northwest Syria"

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The Syrian civil war monitoring group reported that more than 160 people were killed or injured, including about 70 pro-Turkey rebel fighters killed and 90 wounded, due to Russian airstrikes in northwestern Syria.

On the 26th (local time), the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a civil war monitoring group, reported that Russia conducted airstrikes on the training camp of the rebel organization Faylaq al-Sham in Idlib province, northwestern Syria, killing more than 70 and injuring over 90. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said, "It was the deadliest airstrike since the ceasefire took effect in northwestern Syria in March."

The National Liberation Front (NLF), a pro-Turkey rebel group, stated that "Russian forces conducted airstrikes on positions, causing casualties." Saif Rad, NLF spokesperson, criticized, "Russian and government fighter jets continue to violate the ceasefire agreement between Turkey and Russia by attacking military positions and villages."

The Idlib region in northwestern Syria, bordering Turkey, has been the last stronghold of rebel forces opposing the government troops led by President Bashar al-Assad since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Turkey, which supports the rebels, and Russia, which backs the government forces, agreed to a ceasefire in the Idlib area in September 2018. However, when former Al-Qaeda factions took control of the area, government and Russian forces resumed attacks from April last year.