18 killed in heavy bombardment in Syrian province

IDLIB, Syria

At least 18 civilians were killed Saturday in aerial attacks that targeted the town of Urum al-Jawz in this province, a civil defense official said.

"Russian war planes targeted Urum al-Jawz with cluster bombs,” Mustafa Rasheed told Anadolu Agency.

The bombardment in northern Syria also left 25 civilians wounded.

Idlib has been the target of Syrian regime forces that shelled civilian areas of the city.

Approximately 100 civilians were reportedly killed and 500 others — mostly children — were injured in a chemical weapons attack Tuesday in Khan Shaykhun.

The regime of President Bashar al-Assad has been blamed for the attack.

*Reporting by Halit Suleyman; Writing by Ayse Humeyra Atilgan