Scores killed in Syrian regime airstrikes in Idlib

Nine people from two families were killed early on Saturday morning in airstrikes by the Syrian regime and Russia targeting the rebel-held city of Khan Shaykhun in southern Idlib province.

The casualties included four women and two children, local sources told The New Arab. The families had recently fled to Khan Shaykhun from the town of Latamneh, which is on the front lines between the rebels and regime.

Syrian regime and Russian forces have been increasing the intensity of their airstrikes against rebel-held northwestern Syria in recent days. At least 25 people have been killed in Idlib and Hama provinces in the past 24 hours, with over 50 injured.

A previous airstrike on the town of Kafraya killed three people and injured nine others, including seven children. Local sources said that the Civil Defence were still trying to pull people from under the rubble of buildings destroyed in the strikes.

The current regime assault on Idlib province began in late April, despite a ceasefire signed in September 2018 which was guaranteed by Turkey, Russia, and Iran. Over 600 civilians have been killed as a result, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, while 330,000 people have been displaced.

On the ground, opposition fighters used rockets to destroy a Syrian regime PMB armoured vehicle on the frontlines in northern Hama province, while opposition snipers killed three regime soldiers, sources from the opposition National Liberation Front told The New Arab.

While regime airstrikes on opposition-held Idlib and northern Hama province have increased in intensity over the past week, the regime’s ground offensive in the area has stalled following disputes between the regime’s key allies, Russia and Iran.

The Syrian conflict broke out in 2011, following the brutal suppression of peaceful protests against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced, mostly as a result of regime bombardment of civilian areas.

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