3 deadly Assad airstrikes hit Idlib’s Ariha, kill 20 civilians

Assad warplanes carried out early Monday airstrikes on Ariha city south of Idlib, killing dozens of civilians, leveling buildings to the ground and leaving many civilians stuck under the rubble.

Three airstrikes by Assad fighter jets targeted residential areas in Ariha city, which led to the collapse of three adjacent four-storey buildings, killing 20 civilians and trapping dozens under the rubble, Orient News correspondent Anas Tracey reported.

As many as five families were trapped, while rescue volunteers made urgent calls to be sent necessary bulldozers and heavy machinery to be able to lift the collapsed structures and rescue the trapped civilians.

https://orient-news.net/news_images/17_2/1488215774.jpg'>(Rescue workers on the attack site trying to remove the rubble. Ariha, south of Idlib. Feb. 27, 2017 - Orient photo)

The initial declared death toll was seven civilians, but it was expected to at least double as many were still under the rubble. As rescue volunteers lifted more rubble, the death toll increased.

https://orient-news.net/news_images/17_2/1488215471.jpg'>(A child killed by the airstrikes stuck under the rubble of his own house. Ariha, south of Idlib. Feb. 27, 2017 - Orient photo)

 On Saturday, Assad fighter jets hit Ariha, leaving at least14 civilians killed and many others injured.