Syria's HTS publicly execute ten suspected IS militants following Idlib suicide bombing

Syrian militants from jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) publically executed ten alleged members of the Islamic State group, a day after a deadly suicide bombing.

An image showing ten men on their knees being shot dead by HTS fighters on a street in Idlib province was released by an affiliated news agency on Saturday.

It follows a suicide bomb attack on Friday at a restaurant in HTS-controlled Idlib province, killing eight people including five foreign jihadists.

"Today, at the scene of the crime are fair punishment which might deter them and wake them from their stupor," said Anis al-Shami from the HTS militant group, according to Ebaa news agency.

"This comes a day after a member of the gang blew themselves up in a restaurant," Ebaa said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the executions by HTS and said they had been carried out "in front of the restaurant" although it is not clear if it was the same diner as the suicide attack took place.

Idlib province was completely taken over by an alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, HTS, in January, forcing out more moderate rebel groups.

HTS have clamped down on suspected IS cells in Idlib province, although some activists have said this has been used by the group to suppress all opposition.

HTS has been accused of arresting, torturing and killing civil activists and moderate fighters.

Idlib province has witnessed numerous bomb attacks, often blamed on IS sleeper cells. 

In recent weeks it has also been hit by sporadic regime shelling which has killed dozens of civilians.

IS have been all but defeated by US-led force in eastern Syria, with just one village still under the jihadis' control.

It is believed that more than 500,000 people have been killed in Syria's war, the vast majority civilians from regime and Russian shelling and bombing.