9 people killed in airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun as aerial campaign escalates

(Zaman Al Wasl)- At least 9 people, including 3 women and 3 children, have been killed in the northern town of Khan Sheikhoun as regime and Russia's warplanes steped its aerial campaign in Hama and Idlib provinces since Tuesday, Civil Defense worker told Zaman al-Wasl.

Hamid Qattini, White Helmet worker in Khan Sheikhoun, said the regime airstrikes had struc most of Idlib towns on Thursday.

The regime warplanes have conducted more than 130 raids in the past 48 hours in response to a major rebel attack launched on Tuesday. The attack was the biggest in the area since March in the northern Hama and southern Idlib.

On Wednesday, Six people, including 4 women, were killed in Qalaat al-Madiq, and 4 more people, including two women, were also killed in Maarrat al-Nu'man town, Civil Defense Paramedic group said.

Hayat Tahir al-Sham, former al-Qaeda group, backed by 5 rebel factions launched major attack on regime bastions in Maan town. Rebels have also launched rocket attack on Hama military airport.

The regime army said the attack was being repelled, and rebels had suffered losses.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Firas al-Jundi, Health Minister in the opposition's Interim Government condemned regime and Russia's deliberate attacks on medical facilities in Hama and Idlib, saying wounded people have nowhere to have treatment.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrikes hit three hospitals, a medical center and premises used by a rescue service in rebel-held Idlib.

World Health Organization said all three hospitals in Kafr Nabl, Khan Sheikhoun, and Heish sub-districts are no longer in service.

WHO said the attacks had deprived civilians caught in the crossfire of the critical trauma care and health services they need.

Syria, according to WHO, is among the most dangerous countries in the world to be a health worker today – it ranks highest for attacks on health facilities and personnel. WHO has documented credible reports of nearly 100 attacks on health workers and facilities this year and 207 attacks in 2016.