Syrian government artillery fire killed nine people, including five children, in opposition-held Idlib province on Wednesday, first responders say. Sixteen others were injured when cluster munitions hit a school in Sarmin which was sheltering displaced people, according to the White Helmets. Idlib is the last major region still held by rebel fighters and jihadists opposed to President Bashar al-Assad. However, skirmishes and bombardments continued and on 19 December fighting resumed along the frontlines in the south of the province. More than 370,000 people have been killed since an uprising against President Assad began in March 2011, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Source: The Star January 02, 2020 10:30 UTC