Air strikes kill 23 in Syria, Russia denies involvement

BEIRUT — A wave of late night air strikes pummeled the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib, killing at least 23 people, wounding dozens and trapping several under the rubble of their homes, opposition activists said Tuesday.

“The Russian aviation hasn’t performed any combat tasks, moreover hasn’t conducted any air strikes in the province of Idlib,” the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said in a statement Tuesday.



Since the Russian military campaign began in September in an effort to shore up Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces, Moscow has staunchly denied striking any civilian areas.

“The air raids either aim to pave the way for a ground offensive on Idlib or to make the resistance kneel,” said Turkey-based activist Hassan Dughaim, who is originally from Idlib and is in contact with residents in the province that borders Turkey.