Russia targets moderate opposition, civilians in Syria

ALEPPO, Syria

The Russian air campaign in Syria - purportedly launched as part of a counter-terrorism offensive against Daesh - has targeted moderate opposition forces and civilians in areas held by forces opposed to President Bashar al-Assad.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, as of Nov. 4 Russian warplanes carried out 1,631 flights over Syria and hit 2,084 targets since the operation began on Sept. 30.

The ministry claimed 190 Daesh positions were hit within 24 hours on Nov. 20.

However, in October Russian airstrikes focused on areas around Idlib, Hama, Homs and Aleppo.

Between the second half of October and throughout November, the airstrikes were concentrated on the south of Idlib, around Aleppo and on opposition-held areas in the Turkmen region of Bayirbucak in rural Latakia.

For the last fortnight, Maaret al-Numan to the south of Idlib has come under heavy Russian bombardment, resulting in tens of civilian deaths.

The attacks have also targeted civilians in Kafr Hamra, to the northwest of Aleppo, and Al-Hadher, a town to the south of the city.

Over the past three weeks, jet strikes and missiles fired from ships in the eastern Mediterranean have also targeted the Bayirbucak region to support regime ground troops fighting Turkmen militias.

The attacks, which began on the village of Gimam, have been ongoing for the past 12 days as Russian jets and missiles target the strategically important Acisu, Firinlik and Kizildag mountain peaks.

According to the latest report from the Syrian Network for Human Rights, 263 civilians have been killed by Russian forces in Syria.

Thousands of Turkmen have recently been forced to flee the air and ground attacks. Around 2,000 arrived in southern Turkey over the last few days.

Limited success for Assad regime

Despite the close air support of Russian bombers, Assad’s forces have been unable to dislodge opposition fighters in defensive positions.

In October, regime soldiers moved into three villages and a town in the north of Hama province while taking three towns in south of Aleppo.

The same month saw opposition forces make gains in southern Aleppo, taking the towns of Al-Huveyz, Karasi, Tileliyn and Mermin from the regime.

In early November, opposition troops seized control of the strategic town of Murak on the road linking Damascus, Hama and Aleppo.

Under heavy aerial attack, Bayirbucak's key strategic points often change hands between Turkmen troops and Assad forces.

Fighters from the Army of Conquest - an umbrella coalition of opposition factions in Idlib, Hama and Latakia provinces - regained control of hills and villages around two regime-held towns.