Russian Forces Kill 34 Fighters in Syria's Idlib Province

Russian news agency Interfax reported late Sunday that Russian forces killed 34 fighters and injured more than 60 in airstrikes on targets in Syria's Idlib province, citing the deputy head of the Russian reconciliation center in Syria. Admiral Vadim Kolet commented on the attack that occurred on Saturday, stating, "The Russian Air Force carried out airstrikes in Idlib on targets of illegal armed groups involved in shelling Syrian government forces' positions." Kolet mentioned that in 24 hours, government positions were attacked seven times. Reuters could not independently verify the Russian report. The Syrian army accuses opposition fighters, whom it claims are Islamic extremists, of attacking government-controlled areas in Idlib and Aleppo provinces, while denying indiscriminate shelling of opposition-held civilian areas. Opposition officials claim that Moscow and Damascus are exploiting the world's focus on the conflict in Gaza to escalate bombings in an area home to over three million people who refuse to live under the authoritarian rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Kolet reiterated Russian accusations of violations by U.S.-led coalition aircraft in Syrian airspace, stating that a number of aircraft and drones flew without coordination with the Russian side.