Deadly air strikes target rebel-held Idlib in Syria

Suspected Russian and Syrian air strikes bombard several districts in Idlib province, killing at least a dozen people.

At least 19 people were killed in suspected Russian and

Syrian air strikes in several districts in Idlib province, a local

official of the Syrian Civil Defence told ERICGOSSIP TV.

"19 people were killed today. Khan Sheikhoun, Maaret al-

Numaan, Jisr al-Shughour and other areas were targeted by

suspected Russian and Syrian air strikes since the morning,"

Hamid of the Civil Defence said on Thursday.

"In the suburbs of Maaret al-Numaan, al-Jamea hospital was

hit," he added.

The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, is

a volunteer rescue group that operates mostly in rebel-held

territory in Syria.

Idlib's health directorate reported that the strike on al-Jamea

hospital killed at least three patients and injured four others.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR)

also reported that suspected Russian air strikes targeted Idlib

and killed at least 16 people, including seven children.

The SOHR also said many of those killed in the attack were

medical volunteers.

Syrian government helicopters dropped barrel bombs just
outside the town of Khan Sheikhoun, the SOHR added.

A suspected chemical attack killed at least 87 people on 
April 4 in Khan Sheikhoun, and left at least 300 people injured or affected.

Most of Idlib province has been under rebel-control
 since 2015 and is regularly bombed by both Syrian and allied
Russian warplanes.

In its latest report, the SOHR said at least 10,915 civilians,
including 2,393 children, were killed in government air 
strikes and barrel bombs dropped by helicopters in the past 30months.

In addition to that, 64,000 others were injured in these
attacks.

As the Syrian conflict enters its seventh year, more than
465,000 people have been killed in the fighting, more than a
million injured and over 12 million Syrians - half the country's
prewar population - have been displaced from their homes.