Assad regime airstrikes kill 9 in Syria's Idlib

A damaged building is seen after Assad Regime’s airstrikes hit residential areas in the de-escalation zones in Idlib in Syria on December 31, 2017 [Ekrem Masry / Anadolu Agency]

Syrians inspect damaged buildings after Assad Regime’s airstrikes hit residential areas in the de-escalation zones in Idlib in Syria on December 31, 2017 [Ekrem Masry / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from a building after Assad Regime carried out air strikes in Idlib, Syria [Ekrem Masry / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from a building after Assad Regime’s airstrikes hit residential areas in the de-escalation zones in Idlib in Syria on December 31, 2017 [Ekrem Masry / Anadolu Agency]

At least nine civilians were killed by Syrian regime airstrikes in the northwestern Idlib province Sunday.

Regime warplanes and helicopters also targeted areas in southern countryside of Idlib province and eastern countryside of Hama province.

“Seven people were killed in Kafrsajna and two others killed in Maar Tahroma villages,” Mustafa Hajj Yusuf, head of pro-opposition Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets) in Idlib province, told Anadolu Agency.

Yusuf pointed out that civil defense teams were trying to extinguish the fire that spread in Al-Haluba village in Idlib.

Syria has just begun to emerge from a devastating civil war that began in early 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Read: Syrian regime has used 70,000 barrel bombs since 2012, says rights group

Syrian man is seen near a burning building after Assad Regime’s airstrikes hit residential areas in the de-escalation zones in Idlib in Syria on December 31, 2017 [Ekrem Masry / Anadolu Agency]

Syrians inspect damaged buildings after Assad Regime’s airstrikes hit residential areas in the de-escalation zones in Idlib in Syria on December 31, 2017 [Ekrem Masry / Anadolu Agency]

A damaged building is seen after the Assad Regime carried out air strikesin Idlib in Syria [Ekrem Masry / Anadolu Agency]

Syrians inspect damaged buildings after Assad Regime’s airstrikes hit residential areas in the de-escalation zones in Idlib in Syria on December 31, 2017 [Ekrem Masry / Anadolu Agency]

Syrians inspect damaged buildings after Assad Regime’s airstrikes hit residential areas in the de-escalation zones in Idlib in Syria on December 31, 2017 [Ekrem Masry / Anadolu Agency]

A damaged building is seen after Assad Regime’s airstrikes hit residential areas in the de-escalation zones in Idlib in Syria on December 31, 2017 [Ekrem Masry / Anadolu Agency]