Russian Warplanes Fly over Idlib on Syrian Revolution’s Anniversary

Demonstrations in Idlib marking the eleventh anniversary of the start of the protests in Syria (Reuters)
Demonstrations in Idlib marking the eleventh anniversary of the start of the protests in Syria (Reuters)
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Russian Warplanes Fly over Idlib on Syrian Revolution’s Anniversary

Demonstrations in Idlib marking the eleventh anniversary of the start of the protests in Syria (Reuters)
Demonstrations in Idlib marking the eleventh anniversary of the start of the protests in Syria (Reuters)

For the second day in a row, Russian warplanes cruised the skies of de-escalation zones in northern Syria. They flew over areas run by Syrian factions loyal to Turkey in northern Aleppo, stirring civilian fears of Russian raids returning as cities in northwestern Syria celebrate the 11th anniversary of the Syrian revolution.

“Over the course of 48 hours, about 40 sorties were carried out by Russian fighters over Idlib governorate and the countryside of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo, which are under the control of Turkey-backed Syrian opposition factions in northwestern Syria,” Idlib-based activists reported.

According to activists, about eight Russian reconnaissance planes flew over the airspace of Jabal Al-Zawiya in southern Idlib and the Al-Ghab Plain, west of Hama and the western countryside of Aleppo.

The fly over of Russian warplanes raised civilian fears of a return to the Russian escalation and casualties.

Col. Mustafa Bakour, a defected officer from the regime forces, said that there are several explanations for the Russian air activity in the airspace of opposition-controlled areas.

Firstly, the Russians could be training new pilots after most of those trained at Syria’s Hmeimim airbase were transferred to Ukraine.

Secondly, Russia could be sending the West a message that it is prepared to step up its operations in Syria if Western countries continue to support Ukraine.

Thirdly, the flyovers could be a warning to Turkey which had supplied Ukraine with Bayraktar TB2 warplanes.

Finally, the Russians might be sending a message to the Syrian opposition that the revolution has been defeated and that President Bashar al-Assad is the ruler of the country with Moscow’s backing.

The colonel did not rule out Russian warplanes staging raids to back these messages and turn them into a serious threat.



Sudan’s RSF Kill More Than 30 in a New Attack on a Darfur City, Activists Say 

People displaced following Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacks on Zamzam displacement camp shelter in the town of Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan April 15, 2025. (Reuters)
People displaced following Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacks on Zamzam displacement camp shelter in the town of Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan April 15, 2025. (Reuters)
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Sudan’s RSF Kill More Than 30 in a New Attack on a Darfur City, Activists Say 

People displaced following Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacks on Zamzam displacement camp shelter in the town of Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan April 15, 2025. (Reuters)
People displaced following Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacks on Zamzam displacement camp shelter in the town of Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan April 15, 2025. (Reuters)

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked a city in the western Darfur region, killing more than 30 people, an activist group said, in the latest deadly offensive on an area that is home to hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

The RSF and allied militias launched an offensive on el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur province, on Sunday, according to the Resistance Committees, an activist group. Dozens of other people were wounded in the attack, said the group, which tracks the war.

The RSF renewed its attack on Monday, shelling residential buildings and open markets in the city, the group said. There was no immediate comment from the RSF.

El-Fasher, more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) southwest of the capital, Khartoum, is under the control of the military, which has fought the RSF since Sudan descended into civil war more than two years ago, killing more than 24,000 people, according to the United Nations, though activists say the number is likely far higher.

The RSF has been attempting to seize el-Fasher for a year to complete its control of the entire Darfur region. Since then, it has launched many attacks on the city and two major famine-hit camps for displaced people on its outskirts.

The city is now estimated to be home to more than 1 million people, many of whom have been displaced by the ongoing war and previous bouts of violence in Darfur.

The attacks on el-Fasher have intensified in recent months as the RSF suffered battlefield setbacks in Khartoum and other urban areas in the county’s east and center.

Sunday’s violence came less than a week after a two-day attack by the RSF and its allied militias on the city and the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps killed more than 400 people, according to the United Nations.

Last week’s attack forced up to 400,000 people to flee the Zamzam camp, Sudan’s largest, which has become inaccessible to aid workers, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said.