Syrian regime uses incendiary bombs in new Idlib airstrikes

Syrian regime forces dropped thermobaric and cluster bombs, as well as bombs containing napalm on the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib province on Saturday night, local activists reported.

The activists said that regime forces carried out 28 strikes, killing one civilian and injuring several others. Two children were also injured in an airstrike on a village north of Khan Sheikhoun.

The town of Khan Sheikhoun was the target of a regime chemical attack in 2017 which killed at least 89 people.

The Syrian Civil Defence said that the regime’s bombing on Saturday caused fires along the Damascus-Aleppo highway near Khan Sheikhoun, burning agricultural land and crops.

The Civil Defence also put out fires caused by regime bombing near the towns of Taftinaz, Kafrouma and Maarat al-Nu’man.

At least 25 civilians were killed in airstrikes by the regime and its ally Russia in airstrikes on Idlib province on Friday, the Civil Defence said.

Idlib province and northern Hama province, which are under the control of Syrian opposition forces, have been under a sustained regime assault since last month.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed and more than 180,000 have been displaced as a result. The assault is taking place despite a de-escalation agreement signed in September 2018 and guaranteed by Turkey, Russia, and Iran

Meanwhile Turkey has sent fresh supplies of weaponry to Syrian rebel groups in order to help them repel the regime assault. Turkey also reinforced its troop presence at a dozen observation posts which had been set up under the de-escalation deal.

Opposition forces recaptured the town of Kafr Nabuda on Wednesday, using weapons provided by Turkey after it had  fallen to regime forces two weeks earlier.

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