Syrian regime planes strike popular market in Idlib

More than 40 civilians were killed on Sunday when Syrian regime planes targeted a popular market in Idlib province in the north of the country, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The strike came after the fighting between regime forces and rebel groups controlling the city of Jisr Al-Shughur, which is strategic to the regime.

Tens of other civilians were wounded, including nine women and eight children. The number of deaths is likely to rise due to serious injuries.

Jisr Al-Shughur was one of the regime’s last remaining strongholds in the province, and its fall in the hands of jihadists, including Al-Qaeda affiliate group Jabhat Al-Nusra, has left government-held territory elsewhere in neighbouring Latakia and Hama open to more attacks.

Overnight, government warplanes pounded Jisr Al-Shughur with several dozen air strikes as fighting raged on the ground south of the city, said the London-based Observatory.

The regime’s foothold in Idlib became unstable after forces lost control of the city centre on 28 March.

Meanwhile, the Observatory announced the death of 16 ISIS fighters on Sunday in clashes with Kurds in Al-Hasaka governorate in the east of Syria.

More than two weeks ago, 24 ISIS fighters were killed in fierce clashes with the Kurds in Tamr countryside. In the same clashes, seven Kurdish fighters were killed.

Images by Anadolu Agency.