Seven people killed in renewed airstrikes on Saraqeb- Idlib

(Zaman Al Wasl)- At least 7 people killed and dozen more wounded in heavy air strikes on northern town of Saraqeb, Civil Defense agency said on Saturday.

The key town in northwestern province of Idlib has endured to heavy aerial bombing during the week. The rescuing group said regime and Russia have carried out more than 25 raids since early morning on Saraqeb.

About 30 people more people have been killed during the week in the towns of Saraqeb and Ariha in Idlib province.

In retaliation, rebel fighters shot down a Russian Su-25 warplane over Idlib.

Russia's defence ministry said the pilot died after ejecting by parachute, according to TASS news agency.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but hardline opposition groups and the jihadist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) are active in Idlib, AFP reported.

On Friday, 7 displaced people burned to death in deadly airstrikes targeted their fan while they were fleeing regime bombardment on rebel-held areas in Idlib and Aleppo, Civil Defense agency said Friday.

The White Helmets said the strikes hit the village of Tel Adhiya.

Idlib province is the biggest chunk of Syria still held by rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad, with a population swollen by Syrians who have fled regime advances in other parts of the country. Assad has defeated rebels in many parts of western Syria with critical help from Russia and Iran.

A total of 5,783 civilians were killed in Syria, mainly by the Russian forces, over the last two years, according to a report released by Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) on Saturday, Anadolu Agency reported.

The report said 1,596 children and 992 women were among those killed between Sept. 30, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2017.

It said nearly 2.3 million individuals were displaced as a direct result of the Russian offensives along with their allies.

More than 470,000 people have been killed and 12 millions have been driven from their homes since Syria's revolutions erupted in 2011.

7 people killed in renewed Russian strikes

#Saraqib again, 7 civilians were killed, and many others injured, after more than 25 warplane airstrikes and barrel bombs were dropped on residential areas in the city. #CivilDefense teams rushed to help the wounded. and continue the rescue operation. pic.twitter.com/RmGV7Q7vi3
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) February 3, 2018