Syria, Russia pound Idlib before talks

Russian and Syrian jets hammered the major rebel stronghold of Idlib on Tuesday, days before Russia, Iran and Turkey discuss an expected Syrian government offensive.

The warplanes bombarded countryside around Jisr al-Shughour on the western edge of the rebel enclave after weeks of lull, killing 13 civilians but no fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a rebel source.

The observatory also said Israeli missile strikes targeted Iranian military positions in the Syrian provinces of Hama and Tartus. Syria’s state news agency SANA said its air defence systems downed several missiles launched from Israeli warplanes.

The observatory said missiles struck Wadi al-Oyoun in the central province of Hama, near a scientific research centre which was already targeted by Israeli strikes in July and last year.

A Syrian government minister said the siege of Idlib would probably be resolved by force.

“Until now, military action is more likely than reconciliations,” reconciliation minister Ali Haidar told Russia’s Arabiclanguage Sputnik news agency.

Damascus uses the term “reconciliation” for the negotiated rebel surrenders that have taken place in some areas.

“Idlib is different from other regions because of the large numbers of fighters,” Haidar said. “However we cannot say there is no gateway to reconciliation.”

Half of Idlib’s 3 million people have fled from their homes to other parts of Syria. AGENCIES