Russian jets kill at least 25 in north-western Syria: Rescuers

Aerial strikes on Mondaykilled atleast25people, mostly civilians, innorthwesternSyriain the sixth week of aRussian-led military offensive that has so farkilled hundreds of civilians, according to residents and civilrescuers.

They said warplanes flying at high altitude, which monitors said wereRussianSukhoijets, dropped bombs on the village of Jabala in southern Idlib province, with rescuer teams so far pulling out 13 bodies, including women and children.

Russianjetswere also behind several raids that hit the town of Khan Sheikhoun, Kfar Batikh and several other villages that left atleastanother 12 civilians dead, according to another local rescuer.

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Rescuerssay the major aerial campaign that Moscow has thrown its weight behind since it was launched in earnest at the end of April haskilled over 1,500 people with more than half of the death toll civilians.

Residents and local and international aid agencies that support the rebel-held areas say the sustained campaign that has bombed schools and knocked down medical centres was to smash the spirit of civilians in opposition areas.

More than 300,000 people have fled the frontlines to the safety of areas near the border with Turkey, UNand aid agencies say.

TheRussian-backed offensive has so far failed to make major inroads into rebel territory innorthern Hama and southern Idlib provinces, where mainstream rebels backed by Turkey alongside jihadist fighters are putting up fierce resistance in their last remaining bastion inSyria.

Russia and theSyrian army deny allegations of indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas or a campaign to paralyse everyday life in opposition-held areas and say they are fighting al-Qaeda-inspired Islamist militants.

Moscow blames the rebels for breaking a truce by hitting government-held areas and says Turkey has failed to live up to its obligations under a deal brokered last year that created a buffer zone in the area that obliges it to push out militants.

Civilians in rebel-held areas, where many oppose returning toSyrian President Bashar al-Assad's one-party rule, look to Turkey which has steadily built up a military presence in the area as a protector against theRussian-led strikes.

NorthwestSyria- including Idlib province and parts of neighbouring provinces - has an estimated 3 million inhabitants, about half of whom had already fled fighting elsewhere, according to the United Nations.