One day after the execution of a Syrian pilot by opposition groups to Assad's government, retaliatory airstrikes by Syrian fighter jets on the city of Jiroud in northeastern Damascus have resulted in the deaths of at least 30 civilians. Reuters reported on Saturday, July 12, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian rebels, that the bombarded areas included densely populated regions of Jiroud, a medical center, an educational center, and a shelter for civilians fleeing conflict zones. A spokesman for the Syrian rebels told Reuters that these attacks appear to be in retaliation for the killing of a Syrian army pilot who was forced to parachute down due to technical failure on Friday, July 11. The army announced that this pilot was killed by the Jaysh al-Islam group, but this extremist Islamist group only accepted responsibility for the crash of the fighter jet. Meanwhile, the 'Free Syrian Army' has also expressed the opinion that the airstrikes against civilians are related to the execution of this pilot, which 'was carried out by a member of the al-Nusra Front.' The al-Nusra Front is an extremist Islamic group linked to al-Qaeda. While the army attributed the crash of its military aircraft to technical failure, the Jaysh al-Islam group claims to have shot down the plane but did not provide details on how it occurred. The Jaysh al-Islam group stated that the downed fighter pilot was killed after being captured by one of the al-Nusra fighters at a joint command center between the two groups. The army's warning of a severe response to the murder of this pilot came after a brief video of him was released on social media, recorded while he was in captivity by the rebels and referring to details of his mission. The bombed area by Russian and Syrian fighter jets on Saturday is one of the strategic regions under rebel control near Aleppo. If this area falls from rebel control, 400,000 Syrian citizens trapped in the contested region will also be freed.
Death of 30 Civilians Due to Syrian Army's Retaliatory Airstrikes
Retaliatory airstrikes by the Syrian army on Jiroud resulted in the deaths of at least 30 civilians, following the execution of a Syrian pilot by opposition groups. This incident highlights the ongoing violence and the complex dynamics between various factions in the Syrian conflict.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Syrian army airstrikes killed 30 civilians in Jiroud following execution of a pilot by opposition groups.
- Syrian army attack civilians in Jiroud
- opposition groups execute Syrian pilot
- Jaysh al-Islam attack Syrian pilot
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The airstrikes highlight the ongoing violence and retaliatory actions in the Syrian conflict.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%