Assad militias shell Idlib countryside despite claimed ceasefire

Assad regime's militias shelled the demilitarized zone (DMZ) of Idlib countryside on Friday (January 10), causing material damage, violating a ceasefire announced by Russia on the 9th of January, Orient correspondent said.  

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

Assad warplanes also launched several airstrikes on civilian homes in Maarat al-Nuaman city. 

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

On Sunday, Assad warplanes bombed a school, a mosque, and kindergarten in the city of Ariha in Idlib province, killing 12 civilians, including three children and a woman and injuring 25 others, including three women and six children.

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.