Syrian war; Russia air strike on Idlib market leaves eleven dead

At least nine people have been killed when warplanes dropped bombs next to a market outside Jisr al-Shughour in north-western Syria.

The UN expressed deep concern about the escalation of hostilities in north-western Syria after at least 11 people were reportedly killed in Russian air strikes on rebel-held Idlib province.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported that it was the deadliest Russian attack this year.

There was no immediate comment from the Russian military, whose air campaign in support of the Syrian government has been crucial in turning the tide of the 12-year civil war in its favour.

But the Syrian defence ministry said its troops had co-operated with the Russian air force in an operation that targeted “terrorist headquarters and warehouses” in Idlib and “eliminated dozens of terrorists”.

It said the strikes were retaliation for attacks that had killed civilians in government-held Hama and Latakia provinces.

Attacks on civilians in Syria continue unabated and unresolved, leaving Syrians trapped in a never-ending cycle of tragedy and despair while more than half a million people have been killed in the conflict that erupted after President Bashar al-Assad cracked down violently on peaceful pro-democracy protests in 2011.

Idlib is the last remaining opposition stronghold and is home to 2.9 million displaced people, many of whom are living in dire conditions in camps.