Russia strikes kill five commanders and 32 fighters from former Al Qaeda group in Syria

Russia’s defence ministry yesterday said it had killed five field commanders and 32 fighters from a group formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda in strikes on Syria’s north-west province of Idlib.

A monitor said on Monday that Russian strikes had killed 37 civilians including 12 children in Idlib – the highest civilian toll since the region was declared in May as a war-free zone.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strike took place as the militant field commanders of the group formerly known as Al Nusra Front met to the south of the city of Idlib.

The defence ministry did not say when the strikes took place. It identified the five senior figures killed including the commander of the southern sector of Idlib.

The former Al Qaeda affiliate, which renamed itself as Jabhat Fatah Al Sham and became the backbone of the coalition that rules much of Idlib, is designated a terrorist group by the UN.

Moscow said the strikes were carried out after a September 18 militant attack on Russian military police in neighbouring Hama province.

Since the Hama assault, Idlib has been the target of air strikes by the Syrian regime and its Russian ally.

Idlib province and some adjacent areas form one of four so-called war-free zones agreed to in May by rebel supporter Turkey, and government allies Russia and Iran.

Moscow says the raids were carried out after a September 18 militant attack on Russian military police in Hama province