Air raids have pounded areas in Syria's last rebel-held province of Idlib, killing at least 14 civilians and raising further concerns that an all-out regime offensive is only a matter of time.
The strikes on Tuesday came as the United Nations urged Russia, key Bashar al-Assad ally, and Turkey, which backs certain rebel groups in Idlib, to help avert a "bloodbath".
A full-scale military offensive would be devastating for the nearly three million people living in the province, including many rebels and civilians who were bussed out of other areas as they came back under regime control.
At least 46 raids - the first in three weeks - hit the area on Tuesday morning.
The bombing mainly targeted the city of Jisr al-Shughour on Idlib's western edge, along with its surrounding towns and villages, activists told Al Jazeera.
The White Helmets said five children, all members of the same family and aged between five and 11, were among those killed.
Other sources put the death toll to at least 17.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Assad and his allies on Monday not to "recklessly attack" Idlib, saying hundreds of thousands of people could be killed. Russia, however, dismissed the comments and said the area was a "nest of terrorism".
Activists also said the latest attacks prompted dozens to flee towards Aleppo on the easten side of Idlib, or towards Turkey, which has sealed off its border with Syria since last year, allowing only for the flow of humanitarian goods.
Shortly before Tuesday's raids, the Kremlin called Idlib a "pocket of terrorism" and said the presence of rebel groups there undermines the possibility of a political settlement to Syria's seven-year war.
"We know that Syria's armed forces are preparing to resolve this problem," Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, without commenting on a timeframe for the expected operation. Al Jazeera
The Assad regime has recaptured most areas from rebels opposed to his rule, frequently using what Damascus calls "reconciliation" deals under which insurgents agree to give up territory in return for safe passage out, often after intense air and ground campaigns. Assad has repeatedly pledged to take back "every inch" of Syria.
Zaman Al Wasl, Al Jazeera, Agencies
Zaman Al Wasl
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.