9 jihadists killed in Russia strikes on Idlib: monitor

BEIRUT: Nine jihadists were killed Saturday in Russian airstrikes 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 jihadists,” 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 al-Assad in the country’s civil war, and despite an Idlib ceasefire deal reached on August 31, the province has continued to be targeted by Russian air attacks.
Russia-backed regime fighters have for weeks been chipping away at the edges of the province bordering Turkey that is the last jihadist 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.