In a devastating incident, the Syrian army conducted a bombardment in the rebel-held northwestern Idlib province, resulting in the tragic deaths of nine civilians, including six children. The attack took place on Saturday in the village of Qoqfin, located in the mountainous Jabal al-Zawiya area.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the civilians were targeted while they were in the process of picking olives. The SOHR report revealed that the ground bombardment by regime forces caused severe casualties, with nine individuals losing their lives and several others sustaining injuries, some of whom are in critical condition.

The HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), once known as Al-Qaeda's former Syria branch, has control over vast areas in Idlib province, as well as parts of Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia provinces. This group is considered a terrorist organization by Damascus, the United States, and the United Nations.

The Syrian conflict has been escalating, witnessing an increased rate of fighting, including airstrikes by both Russian and U.S. forces against various opposition groups in the region. Additionally, there have been reports of Israel targeting Iran-backed groups.

The clashes in the Idlib province's mountainous region were already ongoing when the tragic incident occurred. Following the deadly strike, HTS launched a heavy attack on nearby regime-controlled territory, intensifying the conflict further.

This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Syria. The loss of innocent lives, especially children, highlights the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict and the importance of protecting civilians caught in the crossfire. The international community must take decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of the people affected by this devastating conflict.