Syrian Human Rights Report: Russian Forces Commit Massacre in Idlib and Target Civilian Infrastructure

The Syrian Network for Human Rights issued a report today titled "Investigation Proves Russian Forces Committed a Massacre in Idlib, Killing 11 Civilians and Bombing a Power Station Denying Thousands of Civilians Access to Water." The report highlights the violent escalation carried out by the Syrian-Russian alliance forces, targeting civilian facilities and areas in northwestern Syria.

According to the 16-page report, the northwestern region of Syria witnessed a severe escalation between October 14 and 16, 2024. Russian forces conducted several airstrikes daily using fixed-wing aircraft and high-explosive missiles. These attacks coincided with ground operations by Syrian regime forces, which employed artillery and explosive-laden drones. The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented the deaths of 13 civilians, including 5 children, while approximately 42 others were injured. The attacks also resulted in significant destruction of homes and civilian facilities.

The report noted that the Syrian regime's indiscriminate attacks have continued since the beginning of 2024, utilizing drones, while Russian attacks were characterized as sudden and sporadic. From January 1 to October 21, 2024, the network documented the deaths of 54 civilians, including 19 children and 7 women, as a result of the Syrian-Russian alliance forces' attacks on northwestern Syria.

The report focuses on two notable incidents of Russian airstrikes in Idlib. The first occurred on October 16, 2024, resulting in the deaths of 11 civilians on the outskirts of Idlib city. The second targeted a power station in western Idlib countryside on October 15, leading to the deprivation of thousands of civilians from water and electricity. The report attributed full responsibility for both incidents to Russian forces, confirming that they occurred during an aerial escalation campaign against northwestern Syria.

**Massacre in Idlib: 11 Civilians Killed in Airstrike**

The report stated that a Russian Su-34 fixed-wing aircraft conducted two airstrikes on the evening of Wednesday, October 16, 2024, using at least four missiles. The strikes targeted agricultural land near Idlib city, specifically a furniture workshop where dozens of civilians were working, resulting in the deaths of 11 civilians, including four children, and injuring 31 others. The bombing caused extensive destruction at the site. Notably, the workshop itself had previously been attacked in a Russian airstrike on February 29, 2024.

**Targeting a Power Station in Idlib Countryside**

On October 15, 2024, Russian aircraft targeted the Al-Kilani electrical substation in the Ain Zarqa area, injuring two workers and destroying two main transformers. The attack deprived thousands of civilians of water and electricity, interrupting the water supply to agricultural lands, severely impacting the local population.

**Violations of International Law**

The report confirmed that the bombardment of civilians constitutes a violation of international human rights law and is likely to amount to war crimes. It also stated that Russian and Syrian forces explicitly violated international resolutions that call for the cessation of indiscriminate attacks.

**Recommendations for the International Community**

The report continues to urge the United Nations Security Council to take decisive action based on Resolution 2254, which calls for an end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. It also called for referring the Syrian file to the International Criminal Court to hold all those involved in committing war crimes accountable. The report emphasized the necessity for the United Nations to condemn the massacres and not to overlook the killing of civilians, warning that such negligence could encourage the repetition of violations in the future.