Clashes between pro-government forces and jihadist-led groups that control Syria's northwest killed at least 45 combatants on Tuesday, a war monitor said.

The fighting flared on the edge of Hama province when jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a dawn attack on regime positions, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

At least 14 pro-government forces died in ensuing clashes, said the Britain-based monitor.

"Regime forces foiled the attack," Observatory head Rami Abdul Rahman told AFP. State news agency SANA also said the offensive had been thwarted.

Hama's northern countryside lies on the edge of a jihadist-controlled region including most of Idlib province.

The frontline had been relatively calm since clashes on Saturday killed more than 35 combatants, including jihadists and regime forces, Abdul Rahman said.

Regime airstrikes on northern Hama and neighbouring Idlib had also paused for more than 24 hours, before resuming Tuesday following the latest bout of fighting, according to the monitor.

The bombardment killed one civilian in southern Idlib, it said.

The latest battles come after rocket fire by HTS -- led by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate -- and allied rebels killed more than 12 civilians in a regime-held village in Aleppo province late Sunday.

Parts of Aleppo, Hama and Idlib are supposed to be protected from a massive regime offensive by a buffer zone deal that Russia and Turkey signed in September.

But it was never fully implemented as jihadists refused to withdraw from a planned demilitarised zone.

In January, HTS extended its administrative control over the region, which includes most of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces.

The Syrian government and Russia have upped their bombardment of the region since late April, killing more than 400 civilians, according to the Observatory.

Syria's war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests.&nbsp;

Clashes between pro-government forces and jihadist-led groups that control Syria's northwest killed at least 45 combatants on Tuesday, a war monitor said. The fighting flared on the edge of Hama province when jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a dawn attack on regime positions, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Clashes between pro-government forces and jihadist-led groups that control Syria's northwest killed at least 45 combatants on Tuesday, a war monitor said. The fighting flared on the edge of Hama province when jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a dawn attack on regime positions, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. At least 14 pro-government forces died in ensuing clashes, said the Britain-based monitor. "Regime forces foiled the attack," Observatory head Rami Abdul Rahman told AFP. State news agency SANA also said the offensive had been thwarted. Hama's northern countryside lies on the edge of a jihadist-controlled region including most of Idlib province. The frontline had been relatively calm since clashes on Saturday killed more than 35 combatants, including jihadists and regime forces, Abdul Rahman said. Regime airstrikes on northern Hama and neighbouring Idlib had also paused for more than 24 hours, before resuming Tuesday following the latest bout of fighting, according to the monitor. The bombardment killed one civilian in southern Idlib, it said. The latest battles come after rocket fire by HTS -- led by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate -- and allied rebels killed more than 12 civilians in a regime-held village in Aleppo province late Sunday. Parts of Aleppo, Hama and Idlib are supposed to be protected from a massive regime offensive by a buffer zone deal that Russia and Turkey signed in September. But it was never fully implemented as jihadists refused to withdraw from a planned demilitarised zone. In January, HTS extended its administrative control over the region, which includes most of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces. The Syrian government and Russia have upped their bombardment of the region since late April, killing more than 400 civilians, according to the Observatory. Syria's war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests.

Syria clashes kill 45 fighters, says war monitor

At least 14 civilians were killed overnight in fresh air raids by the Syrian regime in the besieged rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, a monitor said Monday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said barrel bombs were used, including on the town of Hammuriyeh, where 10 people were killed. Barrel bombs are crude, improvised munitions that cause indiscriminate damage.

The latest deaths bring to 709 the number of civilians killed since regime and allied Russian forces intensified their campaign against Eastern Ghouta in February.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-accuses-russia-of-killing-civilians-in-syria-34682">White House accuses Russia of killing civilians in Syria</a>

At least 166 of those killed were children, Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Observatory said.

The deadly raids, as well as other strikes and rocket fire elsewhere in Eastern Ghouta on Monday, came as the battered enclave awaited a convoy of humanitarian aid from the United Nations.

(With inputs from AFP)

The latest deaths bring to 709 the number of civilians killed since regime and allied Russian forces intensified their campaign against Eastern Ghouta in February

At least 14 civilians were killed overnight in fresh air raids by the Syrian regime in the besieged rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, a monitor said Monday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said barrel bombs were used, including on the town of Hammuriyeh, where 10 people were killed. Barrel bombs are crude, improvised munitions that cause indiscriminate damage. The latest deaths bring to 709 the number of civilians killed since regime and allied Russian forces intensified their campaign against Eastern Ghouta in February. Also read: White House accuses Russia of killing civilians in Syria At least 166 of those killed were children, Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Observatory said. The deadly raids, as well as other strikes and rocket fire elsewhere in Eastern Ghouta on Monday, came as the battered enclave awaited a convoy of humanitarian aid from the United Nations. (With inputs from AFP)

At least 14 dead in fresh air raids on Syria's Ghouta

Even as Russia-backed Syrian forces pummelled rebel-held Aleppo with air strikes on Saturday, US called the &quot;indiscriminate bombing&quot; crimes against humanity, AFP reported.

Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have overrun around 85 per cent of rebel-held east Aleppo in the last month, displacing tens of thousands of civilians and triggering international outrage.

Western powers met in Paris on Saturday, calling for the resumption of peace talks and for civilians to be allowed to leave Aleppo, AFP reported.&nbsp;

&quot;The indiscriminate bombing by the regime violates rules of law, or in many cases, crimes against humanity, and war crimes,&quot; Kerry said in Paris, urging Russia to do its &quot;utmost to bring it to a close&quot;.

The UN&#39;s Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said the world is watching &quot;the last steps&quot; in the Aleppo battle and evacuating civilians must be a priority.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called for a diplomatic solution to the nearly six-year-old conflict.

&quot;We need to tie down the conditions for a genuine political transition, and negotiations must resume on a clear basis within the framework of the UN resolution 2254,&quot; he said.

Both Moscow and Damascus have rejected talk of a ceasefire without a rebel withdrawal from the city -- a demand that opposition groups have refused.

US and Russian officials will gather in Geneva on Sunday for what Kerry described as a bid to stop the city from &quot;being absolutely, completely, destroyed.&quot;

Kerry was not upbeat about the chances of success ahead of the meetings in Paris and Geneva, AFP reported.

&quot;I know people are tired of these meetings, I&#39;m tired of these meetings,&quot; he said. &quot;But what am I supposed to do? Go home and have a nice weekend... while people are dying? Sit there in Washington and do nothing?&quot;

Aleppo, once a thriving commercial city, has witnessed some of the most brutal violence in the country&#39;s nearly six-year war.

The diplomatic flurry came even as a US-backed alliance announced it would launch the second phase of its assault against the Islamic State in the de facto Syrian capital Raqa.

Nine civilians were killed on Saturday in a barrage of rebel rocket fire on government-controlled neighbourhoods, AFP said citing the Syrian Observatory For Human Rights.

The fresh attacks brought to 129 people, including 39 children, the number of people killed by rebel fire on regime-held west Aleppo since November 15.&nbsp;

Another 413 civilians, among them 45 children, have been killed in east Aleppo in the same period.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

Western powers meeting in Paris called for the resumption of peace talks and for civilians to be allowed to leave Aleppo

Even as Russia-backed Syrian forces pummelled rebel-held Aleppo with air strikes on Saturday, US called the "indiscriminate bombing" crimes against humanity, AFP reported. Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have overrun around 85 per cent of rebel-held east Aleppo in the last month, displacing tens of thousands of civilians and triggering international outrage. Western powers met in Paris on Saturday, calling for the resumption of peace talks and for civilians to be allowed to leave Aleppo, AFP reported. "The indiscriminate bombing by the regime violates rules of law, or in many cases, crimes against humanity, and war crimes," Kerry said in Paris, urging Russia to do its "utmost to bring it to a close". The UN's Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said the world is watching "the last steps" in the Aleppo battle and evacuating civilians must be a priority. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called for a diplomatic solution to the nearly six-year-old conflict. "We need to tie down the conditions for a genuine political transition, and negotiations must resume on a clear basis within the framework of the UN resolution 2254," he said. Both Moscow and Damascus have rejected talk of a ceasefire without a rebel withdrawal from the city -- a demand that opposition groups have refused. US and Russian officials will gather in Geneva on Sunday for what Kerry described as a bid to stop the city from "being absolutely, completely, destroyed." Kerry was not upbeat about the chances of success ahead of the meetings in Paris and Geneva, AFP reported. "I know people are tired of these meetings, I'm tired of these meetings," he said. "But what am I supposed to do? Go home and have a nice weekend... while people are dying? Sit there in Washington and do nothing?" Aleppo, once a thriving commercial city, has witnessed some of the most brutal violence in the country's nearly six-year war. The diplomatic flurry came even as a US-backed alliance announced it would launch the second phase of its assault against the Islamic State in the de facto Syrian capital Raqa. Nine civilians were killed on Saturday in a barrage of rebel rocket fire on government-controlled neighbourhoods, AFP said citing the Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. The fresh attacks brought to 129 people, including 39 children, the number of people killed by rebel fire on regime-held west Aleppo since November 15. Another 413 civilians, among them 45 children, have been killed in east Aleppo in the same period. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Syria's 'indiscriminate' bombing of Aleppo is crime against humanity: Kerry

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Syria clashes kill 45 fighters, says war monitor

At least 14 dead in fresh air raids on Syria's Ghouta

Syria's 'indiscriminate' bombing of Aleppo is crime against humanity: Kerry