The Syrian army’s actions have once again affected one of the most vulnerable populations within the armed conflict: children. According to local reports, on Saturday, March 6th, three children were gravely injured from “artillery shelling” caused by explosions carried out by the Syrian regime. Two out of the three injured children have been given extended care at a local health clinic due to the seriousness of their injuries.
The blast took place in the rural town of Ariha, Idlib which forms part of a de-escalation zone throughout the province. These “safe zones'' were supposed to form part of a total of four ceasefire areas established in Syria. Their purpose was to temper the armed conflict between Syrian government forces and armed rebels throughout the southern and western provinces of Syria. Unfortunately, these de-escalation zones have not been respected by both parties.
More specifically, other targeted areas besides Ariha included positions in the neighboring areas of Bayanin, Al-Ruwayha, and Al-Bara in the southern Idlib area. Fortunately, only property damage occurred with no casualties being reported. The regime forces also utilized heavy machine guns against the rebel frontlines of Al-Ankawi in Sahl Al-Ghama, an area of Hama in the northwestern Syrian countryside. As the conflict wages on in these safe zones, the likelihood of an end to hostilities looks slim, at least in the short term.
To learn more, please read:
https://www.syriahr.com/en/207668/
Author: Sergio Gomez; Editor: Xavier Atkins]
