(Zaman Al Wasl)- At least 6 civilians, including 5 children, have been killed in regime air strikes on the northern province of Idlib, a Syrian civil defense agency said on Sunday.
The deadly strikes hit the town of Kafr Sajna in the southern countryside, according to the White Helmets. The Russian and regime warplanes repeatedly struck residential areas of the province, the rescuing group added.
The regime forces, backed by Russian air force and Iranian-backed militias, have stepped up its offensive on Idlib and Hama provinces, pushing to take major rebel stronghold in Syria.
The Assad troops are pushing north from a corner of the adjacent province of Hama, as well as from Aleppo province to Idlib's east. They have seized around 40 towns and villages across the three provinces in recent weeks, according to AFP.
Idlib has been a haven for tens of thousands of rebels and civilians who were forced to abandon their homes in other parts of western Syria that the government and its foreign military allies have recaptured from rebels.
Since the "de-escalation zone" deal went into effect in May, hundreds of children have been killed and wounded in Idlib. But after almost five months of calm, fighters loyal to Bashar al-Assad have ramped up operations to reach Idlib.
Observers say the de-escalation deal, agreed in May, also helped regime forces to consolidate territorial gains.
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