Damascus: A barrage of mortar shells hit government-held areas of the northern city of Idlib on Monday, killing 14 people and wounding at least 50, Syrian state media said.
Idlib is the provincial capital in northwestern Syria and it has been under the control of President Bashar Al Assad’s troops since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in March 2011. Rebels trying to overthrow Al Assad’s government control the areas around the city. They have been besieging the city for more than two years, firing mortars into the government-held areas and clashing with Assad’s troops at its outskirts.
The state-run Sana news agency said mortars shells fell on several parts of Idlib on Monday afternoon, including a residential area and a market. State TV said children were among those who died in the attacks, and at least 50 people were wounded.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks.
State TV blamed “terrorists” for the attacks, a term the Syrian government uses for rebels trying to overthrow Al Assad’s government.
