Russian jets kill 16 civilians in Syria’s Idlib, Aleppo

IDLIB / ALEPPO

At least 16 people were killed and 20 others were wounded Friday when Russian jets attacked residential places in northwestern Syria, civil defense officers have told Anadolu Agency.

The incident took place in Jisr al-Sughur in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib. The dead include women and children, according to civil defense officers.

Meanwhile, Russian jets also attacked with barrel bombs front-line troops of the Syrian opposition fighting against Daesh in Mare district of northern Aleppo city, opposition Shahba Press editor Mamun Hatib told Anadolu Agency.

"The Russian [jets] attacked the opposition forces instead of Daesh," Hatib said. "If the Russians and the Syrian government were not cooperating with Daesh, the Russian jets would have attacked the Daesh headquarters as well."

Russia began air operations in Syria on Sept. 30 with the aim of supporting the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

While Russia has struck Daesh, especially after a Russian airliner crashed in Egypt, most likely from the explosion of a bomb planted onboard, NATO has said Russia was targeting groups opposed to Assad, including some that enjoy U.S. and Turkish support.

At least 250,000 people have been killed since the Syria conflict began in 2011, according to UN figures.