Regime airstrikes kill 9 in northwestern Syria

Civil Defence members try to extinguish the fire broke out after a plane belonging to the Assad Regime forces carried out airstrike over residential areas of Maarrat al-Nu’man district of Idlib, Syria on December 11, 2016 [Mouhamed karkas / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises after a warcraft belonging to either the Assad Regime or the Russian airforce carried out an airstrike over residential areas of Maarrat al-Nu’man district of Idlib, Syria on December 11, 2016 [Mouhamed karkas / Anadolu Agency]

Civil Defence members try to extinguish the fire broke out after a plane belonging to the Assad Regime forces carried out airstrike over residential areas of Maarrat al-Nu’man district of Idlib, Syria on December 11, 2016 [Mouhamed karkas / Anadolu Agency]

At least nine people were killed in a regime airstrike on the northwestern Idlib province on Sunday, according to a pro-opposition civil defence official.

Regime warplanes struck residential areas in Maaret al-Numan region in the province, Mohamed Omar told Anadolu Agency.

“The attack has injured 25 people and caused damage to houses and shops in the area,” he said.

Syria has been locked in a devastating civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests – which erupted as part of the “Arab Spring” uprisings – with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, hundreds of thousands of people are believed to have been killed and millions more displaced by the conflict.