18 Killed in Shelling of Village Controlled by Syrian Rebel Forces

Photo by South China Morning Post (SCMP)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] On the 12th (local time), at least 18 people were killed in two rounds of shelling in Afrin, a northern town controlled by Syrian rebel forces.

According to foreign media, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a civil war monitoring group, reported that on the same day, a commander of the Turkish-backed rebel forces, four hospital staff including doctors, and two children were killed by shelling at Asifa Hospital in Afrin, northwestern Syria.

The organization stated, "The shelling targeted multiple locations in the area and struck the hospital," adding, "Most of the fatalities occurred at the attacked hospital."

The number of injured was counted at 23, with some seriously wounded, so the death toll may rise, SOHR added.

The shelling was observed to have originated from northern Aleppo, where pro-Iranian and pro-government militias are based. Nearby, Kurdish militias, who are in opposition to Turkey, are also stationed.

However, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a faction mainly composed of militias, issued a statement denying involvement in the shelling.

The government forces and rebel groups agreed to a ceasefire in March last year through mediation by Russia and Turkey, but small-scale clashes continue in various locations.

On the 10th, government forces also launched an attack on Idlib in the northwest, held by rebel forces, killing 12 people. SOHR described this as the deadliest incident since the ceasefire 15 months ago.

Since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011, approximately 500,000 people have died.