A member of the White Helmets died and five of his colleagues were wounded, along with “dozens more civilians” in a strike on the Civil Defence center in the city of Maarat al Numan, according to local media. Sources noted that the Civil Defence Center – “the most important center in the southern Idlib countryside” – was almost completely destroyed by the strike. While most sources blamed Russia, two others pointed to the Syrian regime. Several reports said that “rocket-propelled grenades” had been used in the attack.
According to Syria News Desk, “a member of the civil defence was killed and five others wounded at noon today [Oct 20th], due to the Russian warplanes raid targeting the civil defence center in the town of Maaret al-Numan
“The media opposition activist Khaled AlIdlbi of Idlib countryside told Syria News Desk that the raid hit the center building directly, pointing out that the wounded were taken to the field hospital in Maaret al-Numan”.
Qasioun, who also blamed Russia, said that dozens of civilians were also wounded.
However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed “government warplanes ” for the death of “Bassam Ghassan Hadla, born in 1986, from Hama city”.
Bof-sy also pointed towards the regime, reporting that “sources in the Civil Defense of Anatolia, who did not wish to reveal their identity for security reasons, said that the Syrian regime’s aircraft bombed the Civil Defence Center in Ma’arat al-Nu’man, killing a volunteer and causing significant damage to the building, equipment and vehicles”.
A number of sources tweeted graphic images showing blood on the ground in the center.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Bassam Ghassan Hadla
Adult
male
member of the White Helmets
killed
Ahmed Hablousi
Age unknown
male
member of the White Helmets
injured
