38 civilians killed by regime airstrikes in N. Syria

By Adham Kako

ANKARA (AA) – Syrian regime airstrikes in Hama’s northern countryside and in de-escalation zones located in northern Idlib left 38 civilians dead in the period from Feb. 12 to 20, according to local civil-defense sources.

Casualties included at least 13 women and 13 children, Raed Saleh, director of the White Helmets civil-defense agency, told Anadolu Agency.

According to Saleh, a bakery and at least three schools in the town of Khan Sheikhoun were destroyed by the strikes.

In a Thursday statement, the White Helmets called on Turkey, Russia and Iran -- the three guarantor states in the Asana peace process -- to pressure Damascus to halt its attacks.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected severity.