Death toll from regime attacks in Idlib, Syria hits 20

IDLIB, Syria

The death toll from airstrikes carried out by Syrian regime forces and Russia in the Idlib, Syria de-escalation zones climbed to 20 on Monday, according to the White Helmets civil defense agency.

It said 39 civilians were injured in the attacks, adding that death toll could rise.

The attacks targeted the towns of Ma’ar Shoreen, Khan Shaykhun, Al-Tamanah and Sheikh Idris in the Idlib province and Hama province, in the towns of Ltamenah and Kafr Zayta, the agency said.

Turkey and Russia agreed last September to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression would be expressly prohibited.

The Syrian regime, however, has consistently broken the terms of the ceasefire, launching frequent attacks inside the de-escalation zone.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in early 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected severity.

* Writing by Maimaitiming Yilixiati and Beyza Binnur Donmez