Battle for Idlib: Assad's forces bombed 8 schools and kindergartens, 21 victims

(Patria) – Military forces of the Syrian regime, backed by Russian allies, bombed eight school buildings on Tuesday.

The government of Bashar al-Assad authorized the airstrikes despite warnings from international actors that the violence has led to the worst humanitarian crisis in Syria since the start of the war. Idlib represents the last stronghold held by opposition rebel forces backed by allies.

During the bombing of six school buildings and two kindergartens in the city of Idlib, 21 people were killed.

Yousef Kashto, a teacher at one of the schools, told media that teachers sent children home immediately after the bombing began at 8:00 AM, but one cluster bomb hit the schoolyard, killing three teachers and one student, while six students were seriously injured.

Since the beginning of this year alone, at least 22 educational buildings have been bombed, and 400 civilians have been killed since December when Assad's and Russian forces launched a new fierce offensive against rebel forces supported by Turkey in the northeastern province of Idlib.

In its reports, the UN cites a figure of 1 million Syrian residents who have been forced to leave their homes and head towards the Turkish border, which is now closed to new refugees. Hundreds of thousands of families are barely surviving outdoors, in winter conditions, without shelter, food, or medical assistance. Seven children have died from exposure to low temperatures and inhumane conditions in informal settlements, humanitarian organizations report.

The British Guardian writes that Assad's forces, backed by Russia, have captured the town of Kafranbel, which was a center of the Syrian revolution, as well as 18 nearby towns and villages in the last 48 hours.

At the same time, rebel forces, with 12,000 new Turkish soldiers mobilized in Idlib, have captured the town of Nayrab, marking their first advance since Turkey entered direct confrontation in early February.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has for some time been insisting on a summit that would bring Russia, France, and Germany to the negotiating table, but Russia still does not show good will for the peace process.