Nearly 60 dead in Russia raids on Qaeda run Syria jail: monitor
Date
1/9/2016 11:05:15 PM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Ariha in Idlib province on May 29 2015 a day after the city was seized by a rebel coalition led by Al-Qaeda's Syria franchise. AFP Ghaith Omran
Beirut: Russian strikes Saturday on a prison complex run by Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate killed at least 57 people and wounded 30 others many critically a monitor said giving a revised toll.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the air raids on an Al-Nusra Front building prison near a popular market in northwestern Idlib province killed 21 civilians 29 militants and seven detainees.
The building in Maarat al-Numan housed the group's religious court and a jail.
The Britain-based Observatory which relies on a large network of sources inside Syria said a child and two women were among the civilians killed in the strikes.
A statement said that among the militants killed were 23 Nusra fighters.
"The toll from the Russian raids on the Al-Qaeda-run prison has risen to at least 57 killed and 30 wounded many in critical condition" said the Observatory which had earlier given a toll of 39 dead.
Russian warplanes have been conducting air strikes against the Islamic State organisation and "other terrorist groups" in Syria since September 30.
Although Al-Nusra and IS are both jihadist organisations they are fierce rivals and regularly clash in Syria.
Al-Nusra also has tense relationships with non-jihadist rebel groups that oppose its extreme interpretation of Islamic law.
In Idlib it has formed an alliance with rebel groups including hardline faction Ahrar al-Sham.
The Army of Conquest coalition has expelled regime forces from Idlib province.
Syria's conflict first erupted with anti-government demonstrations in March 2011 but expanded into a war that has left more than 260000 people dead.
AFP