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| Spate of Deadly Attacks in Syria Ahead of Cease-Fire | Spate of Deadly Attacks in Syria Ahead of Cease-Fire |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon — Bags of body parts. Three young siblings killed along with their mother. A pregnant woman lying dead under a fallen roof. | BEIRUT, Lebanon — Bags of body parts. Three young siblings killed along with their mother. A pregnant woman lying dead under a fallen roof. |
| These sights — described by Syrians after a marketplace bombing in the northern Syrian city of Idlib on Saturday — represent just a fraction of the carnage from Russian or government airstrikes in the two days since Russia and the United States declared that a new cease-fire would begin on Monday. | These sights — described by Syrians after a marketplace bombing in the northern Syrian city of Idlib on Saturday — represent just a fraction of the carnage from Russian or government airstrikes in the two days since Russia and the United States declared that a new cease-fire would begin on Monday. |
| At least 91 people have been killed and scores more wounded in two days of attacks on rebel-held areas around the country, mainly in Idlib and in the divided city of Aleppo, according to tallies by doctors, rescuers and monitoring groups. | |
| The violence has deepened mistrust among Syrians that the cease-fire, agreed on late Friday night, will deliver on its promise to ground the government warplanes that opposition groups say cause the war’s greatest death toll. | |
| Rebels, who have no airpower, also attacked government-held territory, mainly with mortar shells. The Syrian state news media reported rebel shelling in several cities — Damascus, Aleppo, Hama and Dara’a — but did not say whether there were any casualties. | Rebels, who have no airpower, also attacked government-held territory, mainly with mortar shells. The Syrian state news media reported rebel shelling in several cities — Damascus, Aleppo, Hama and Dara’a — but did not say whether there were any casualties. |
| In any war, it is common for the parties to escalate attacks in the days or hours before a truce, and in this case the uptick was sharp. | In any war, it is common for the parties to escalate attacks in the days or hours before a truce, and in this case the uptick was sharp. |
| “I will tell my expectations for the coming two days,” Abdelkafi al-Hamdo, a schoolteacher and anti-government activist, said in a text message minutes after the deal between the United States and Russia was announced. “Assad will try to kill as much as possible before the claimed cease-fire,” he said in reference to President Bashar al-Assad. “A lot of shelling and bombs will fall upon civilians, especially the almost empty markets.” | “I will tell my expectations for the coming two days,” Abdelkafi al-Hamdo, a schoolteacher and anti-government activist, said in a text message minutes after the deal between the United States and Russia was announced. “Assad will try to kill as much as possible before the claimed cease-fire,” he said in reference to President Bashar al-Assad. “A lot of shelling and bombs will fall upon civilians, especially the almost empty markets.” |
| On Saturday, airstrikes hit Idlib, Aleppo and the Damascus suburb of Douma. | On Saturday, airstrikes hit Idlib, Aleppo and the Damascus suburb of Douma. |
| On Sunday, Mr. Hamdo wrote grimly, “We know what Assad and Russia are.” | On Sunday, Mr. Hamdo wrote grimly, “We know what Assad and Russia are.” |
| Government-controlled news media said on Sunday that the Syrian armed forces had carried out attacks on insurgents in several provinces. Russian officials have denied that their warplanes have been responsible for a single civilian casualty in nearly a year of airstrikes; the monitoring group Airwars.org estimates the number at more than 3,000. | Government-controlled news media said on Sunday that the Syrian armed forces had carried out attacks on insurgents in several provinces. Russian officials have denied that their warplanes have been responsible for a single civilian casualty in nearly a year of airstrikes; the monitoring group Airwars.org estimates the number at more than 3,000. |
| The heaviest strikes over the weekend happened in Idlib, a province held by insurgents ranging from the Qaeda-linked group formerly known as the Nusra Front, which recently changed its name to the Levant Conquest Front, to rebel groups backed by the United States. | The heaviest strikes over the weekend happened in Idlib, a province held by insurgents ranging from the Qaeda-linked group formerly known as the Nusra Front, which recently changed its name to the Levant Conquest Front, to rebel groups backed by the United States. |
| The strikes hit a marketplace as people shopped for Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, a major Muslim holiday. | |
| The cease-fire is set to begin on Monday at sundown, when the holiday starts. | |
| “Idlib’s people got a gift for the feast,” said Mohammad Najdat Kaddour, a resident of the nearby town of Binnish who came to Idlib to film the aftermath. “This was their gift.” | “Idlib’s people got a gift for the feast,” said Mohammad Najdat Kaddour, a resident of the nearby town of Binnish who came to Idlib to film the aftermath. “This was their gift.” |
| “People decided to go out after hearing there was a truce on Eid,” he said via internet chat. He said he was incensed not only at the Syrian government, but also at the United States for supporting a deal he considered worthless. | “People decided to go out after hearing there was a truce on Eid,” he said via internet chat. He said he was incensed not only at the Syrian government, but also at the United States for supporting a deal he considered worthless. |
| “Do you believe there’s something called a truce?” he said. “ They are all a bunch of criminals.” | “Do you believe there’s something called a truce?” he said. “ They are all a bunch of criminals.” |
| Residents compiled a list of the dead, including three young siblings, Sidra, Abdelkareem and Mohammad Arafa, who had been killed along with their mother. | Residents compiled a list of the dead, including three young siblings, Sidra, Abdelkareem and Mohammad Arafa, who had been killed along with their mother. |
| Videos from the scene posted online showed piles of rubble and overturned carts, and the bodies of children and adults. | Videos from the scene posted online showed piles of rubble and overturned carts, and the bodies of children and adults. |
| In Douma, near Damascus, residents reported the deaths of two young brothers who had lost a third brother last year. | In Douma, near Damascus, residents reported the deaths of two young brothers who had lost a third brother last year. |
| In Aleppo, doctors reported new casualties on Sunday morning from another round of barrel bombing. Youssef Mohamamd Almosto, 60, was reported dead; a 36-year-old man had a leg amputated, and several children were being treated for injuries. | In Aleppo, doctors reported new casualties on Sunday morning from another round of barrel bombing. Youssef Mohamamd Almosto, 60, was reported dead; a 36-year-old man had a leg amputated, and several children were being treated for injuries. |
| All the while, Syrian armed opposition groups were debating whether to accept the terms of the deal, which calls for a complete halt to violence for seven days, followed by joint operations by the United States and Russia against designated terrorist groups like the Islamic State and the former Nusra. Opposition groups — including those strongly against Al Qaeda and the Islamic State — widely believe the deal is stacked against them. And some government supporters also distrust the deal. | All the while, Syrian armed opposition groups were debating whether to accept the terms of the deal, which calls for a complete halt to violence for seven days, followed by joint operations by the United States and Russia against designated terrorist groups like the Islamic State and the former Nusra. Opposition groups — including those strongly against Al Qaeda and the Islamic State — widely believe the deal is stacked against them. And some government supporters also distrust the deal. |
| Yet virtually all Syrians would welcome a respite from fighting and bombing, as was provided under a short-lived cease-fire in February. They therefore may be willing to give it a try, even though the Russian and United States officials who brokered it have themselves voiced their doubts that it will work. | Yet virtually all Syrians would welcome a respite from fighting and bombing, as was provided under a short-lived cease-fire in February. They therefore may be willing to give it a try, even though the Russian and United States officials who brokered it have themselves voiced their doubts that it will work. |
| Other opposition groups have been warned that they may also be hit by airstrikes if they do not leave areas where Nusra is present or remove the militant group itself — something not always possible for weaker groups to do without abandoning their home areas. | Other opposition groups have been warned that they may also be hit by airstrikes if they do not leave areas where Nusra is present or remove the militant group itself — something not always possible for weaker groups to do without abandoning their home areas. |
| The plan accepts the presence on the battlefield of other groups designated as terrorists by the United States — such as Hezbollah — that are battling on the side of the Syrian government, and considers them parties to the cease-fire. | The plan accepts the presence on the battlefield of other groups designated as terrorists by the United States — such as Hezbollah — that are battling on the side of the Syrian government, and considers them parties to the cease-fire. |
| Iran, Hezbollah and the Syrian government have all declared that they accept the deal. | Iran, Hezbollah and the Syrian government have all declared that they accept the deal. |