UN chief calls for investigation of Syria airstrikes in Idlib which left dozens dead

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for an investigation of airstrikes believed to have been carried out by Russian jets in Syria, killing dozens including children.

The air attack on the night of 7 to 8 June targeted the village of Zardana in Idlib province and left 44 dead including six children, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In a statement, Guterres expressed "deep concern" about the strikes and called for a "full investigation into the attacks, especially allegations that there was also a second strike targeting first responders, to establish accountability."

He recalled that Idlib is part of the de-escalation agreement for Syria reached between Turkey, Russia and Iran and urged those guarantors to uphold their commitment.

Most of Idlib province is held by an array of Islamist and jihadist groups with only parts controlled by the Russian-backed regime.

More than 2 million people in Idlib currently need humanitarian assistance, including hundreds of thousands of Syrians evacuated from cities captured by the regime in recent months.

Since Russia intervened in its support in 2015, the regime has regained control of around half of the country.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed since the war's outbreak in 2011, mostly by the regime and its powerful allies. Millions have also been displaced both at home and abroad.

The brutal tactics pursued mainly by the regime, which have included the use of chemical weapons, sieges, mass executions and torture against civilians, have led to war crimes investigations.