MAARET AL-NUMAN: Rescuers pulling a victim out of the rubble of a building following reported air strikes by pro-regime forces on Monday — AFP BEIRUT, July 22 (Agencies): An airstrike struck a busy market in a rebel-held town in northwestern Syria on Monday, killing at least 16 people, according to opposition activists and a war monitoring group.
The airstrike took place in the town of Maaret al-Numan and also wounded more than 30 people, according to the reports from the region which has witnessed intensive airstrikes and bombardment on daily basis as Syrian troops, backed by Russian air cover, try to push their way into the enclave near the Turkish border.
Idlib province, in the northwestern corner of Syria, is the last major rebel stronghold in the country outside the control of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Syrian government forces launched their offensive in Idlib province in late April and fighting has killed more than 2,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
But the troops have made little progress since the push started.
Russia will continue to help Syria protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday in a congratulatory message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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