A series of airstrikes on an opposition-held district in the Syrian city of Homs, presumably carried out by Russia or Syria, killed at least nine civilians on Wednesday, local activists said. Attacks in IdlibThe Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that nine civilians were killed in the raids. Peace talks scheduledUN-sponsored talks on Syria are to start in Geneva on Feb. 20. Syrian government forces and Turkish-backed opposition fighters are in a race to seize the town of al-Bab from the Islamic State group. Turkish and Syrian forces have so far avoided direct conflict, despite hostile rhetoric between Erdogan and Assad.

Source: CBC News February 08, 2017 22:18 UTC