At least nine killed in Russian air strikes in Syria’s Idlib

At least nine civilians were killed and more than 34 wounded after Russian warplanes carried out numerous air strikes on Idlib in northwestern Syria, including a market crowded with shoppers.

At least nine civilians were killed and more than 34 wounded after Russian warplanes carried out numerous air strikes on Idlib in northwestern Syria, including a market crowded with shoppers, according to a group of emergency rescue volunteers.

The attack on Sunday targeted a vegetable market in the city of Jisr al-Shughour city, in the eastern Idlib countryside, said the Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets.

A local monitor told Al Jazeera that two Russian Su-24s targeted Idlib city, Benin town and the al-Arbeen mountain area with five strikes, while a Russian Su-34  hit the market in Jisr al-Shughour.

“During our work today at the vegetable market, we were startled by an air strike that targeted the market where we were present, turning [it] into a pool of blood and the remains of victims,” said Reda Hayshid, a 21-year-old vegetable vendor.

Ahmed Yazji, who is on the Syria Civil Defence’s board of directors, said: “In general, the Syrian regime and Russian attacks on the region have witnessed an escalation in the last few days, which puts a huge burden on our work because both [Syrian President Bashar al-] Assad and Russia are known to double attack areas where we are present while trying to rescue the victims and the injured.”