Violence escalates in northwest Syria, claiming more lives

A Syrian military official says rebels in the country's northwest are preparing for an attack on government-held areas.

The comments to state news agency SANA by the unnamed official came on Sunday as the rebel-held Idlib province and nearby areas witnessed the worst wave of violence since Russia and Turkey brokered a truce in September.

Syrian opposition activists, including the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Syrian Civil Defence, say Syrian warplanes and artillery have pounded rebel-held areas in Idlib and Hama province.

The Observatory said on Saturday that at least nine civilians, including two children, were killed in airstrikes.

Syria's military and Russia carried out more than 100 air raids in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo provinces.

Much of Idlib and parts of Aleppo and Hama are controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), al-Qaeda's former Syria branch.

The regime has intensified airstrikes against these areas in recent months, despite a September deal between government ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey that is meant to protect Idlib from a massive regime offensive.

Pro-government media said rebels shelled villages on the opposite side of the front line.

Government troops and rebels have been reinforcing their positions in recent days.

Syria's multi-fronted civil war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it began in 2011 with anti-regime protests that sparked a devastating crackdown.

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