Child among Syrian civilians killed in Idlib by regime shelling

Syrian regime shelling killed at least nine civilians in Idlib on Tuesday, with Syrians fearing a new offensive is being planned on the opposition province by Bashar al-Assad's forces.

At least one child and a woman were among the civilians killed in the regime bombardment on Maarat al-Numan on Tuesday, while 30 were others injured.  "Regime forces based in Abu Dhali, south-east of Idlib, targeted civilian homes in Maarat al-Numan with around 30 rockets," a White Helmets source told The New Arab's Arabic-language service.

The White Helmets said on Twitter that it was struggling to cope with the casualties as regime shelling on the Idlib city was renewed on Tuesday afternoon.

The civil rescuse team confirmed that one child was killed and two others injured in the bombardment.

"Renewed shelling targeting Maarat al-Numan city, with news of the fall of more victims. Civil defence teams are working hard to respond to all affected areas," the White Helmets said on Twitter.

On Monday, sources reported that regime troops and military equipment were being rushed to northern Hama this week, where clashes have broken out between pro-government and opposition forces.

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Maarat al-Numan is one of Idlib's largest settlements and has been at the heart of both anti-regime and anti-HTS protests.

Idlib has been covered by a ceasefire zone agreed between Russia and Turkey last year, which has seen air strikes and shelling on the heavily populated province greatly reduced.

The takeover of Idlib by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has seen Russia and the Syrian regime issue new threats against the province, with the hardline militant group not considered to be part of the truce agreement by Moscow.

Earlier, a suicide bomber killed two people when she detonated her bomb belt outside an office run by HTS in Idlib city.

Reports suggest that she detonated a bomb vest after exchanging gunfire with guards outside the administrative centre.

HTS waged a war earlier in January against rebel groups such as Nour al-Din al-Zinki and the Free Syrian Army, leading to the surrender of Idlib province to the hardline Islamist group.

HTS have also waged a war against Islamic State group sympathisers and sleeper cells in Idlib. Bombings against HTS-alligned clerics and commanders have been frequent in Idlib.

Activists have told The New Arab that the capture of Idlib province and other opposition areas in northern Syria risks new bombardments from regime and Russian forces.

Health centres have also been shackled by aid cuts, following the HTS take-over due to the group's former links to Al-Qaeda.