Regime strikes kill 11 civilians in Idlib

Eleven Syrian civilians were killed yesterday in regime strikes in the country’s northwest, a monitor said, in apparent retaliation for a rebel attack on two besieged regime-held villages. The bombing raids hit a string of towns and villages in the northwest province of Idlib, which is almost entirely controlled by various hardline rebels.

“Nine civilians, including three children, were killed in the raids on the town of Taftanaz,” said the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Observatory head Rami Abdul Rahman said strikes had also hit near a children’s hospital, putting it out of service.

The villages of Fuaa and Kafraya represent a tiny pocket of regime-held territory in Idlib.

Quiet in recent months

Occasional skirmishes erupt there but the frontline has been quiet in recent months. Late Saturday, fighters from Al Qaida’s former Syrian affiliate attacked Fuaa and Kafraya, according to the Observatory.

“Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) began heavily shelling the two villages, and broke into Fuaa to attack local fighters,” said Abdul Rahman. “This is the fiercest attack in around three years.”