Nine terrorists killed in Russia strikes on Idlib — monitor

BEIRUT — Nine terrorists were killed on Saturday in Russian air strikes on Syria's war-torn province of Idlib, a monitoring group said.

"Russian strikes this morning targeted the Hurras Al Deen group and Ansar Al Tahwid in eastern Idlib... killing nine militants," said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, adding eight others were wounded.

Six of the dead were members of the Al Qaeda linked Hurras Al Deen, a group which is also targeted by the US-led coalition.

Moscow is a key ally of Syria's President Bashar Assad in the country's civil war.

Russia-backed regime fighters have for weeks been chipping away at the edges of the province bordering Turkey that is the last terrorist stronghold outside of Assad's control.

Hayat Tahrir Al Sham — a group led by Syria's former Al Qaeda affiliate — extended its administrative control over the whole of Idlib in January, but other rebel factions remain present.

In late August, clashes between anti-government fighters and regime forces left more than 50 dead on both sides, when the terrorists attacked loyalist positions in the south.

Last month, Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution backed by 12 of the 15 member states that called for a ceasefire in Idlib province.

It was Russia's 13th veto of a UN resolution since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, highlighting the Security Council's impasse over the issue.