Airstrike hits busy market in opposition-held northwestern Syria and kills at least 9 people

In an early morning airstrike on Sunday, a busy vegetable market in northwestern Syria was targeted, resulting in the death of at least nine people, according to activists and local first responders. The strike was reportedly carried out by Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, over the opposition-held town of Jisr al-Shughur near the Turkish border.

The airstrike occurred shortly after a brief revolt by Moscow’s top mercenary group against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The civil defense organization in opposition-held northwestern Syria, known as the White Helmets, reported that over 30 people were wounded, and they expected the death toll to rise.

Ahmad Yaziji of the White Helmets stated that critically wounded individuals had succumbed to their injuries after reaching the hospital. The targeted attack took place at the main vegetable market, where farmers from across northern Syria gather.

Farmers hastily transported the injured to hospitals in bloodied vegetable trucks, while activists issued urgent appeals for blood donations. Neither Syria nor Russia has commented on the airstrike, although Damascus claims that strikes in the northwest province target armed insurgent groups.

The majority of northwestern Syria is controlled by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, as well as Turkish-backed forces.