Scores of people have been killed and over 100 others injured in Russian air strikes in Syria's Idlib province, Al Jazeera has learnt.
The volunteer-run Syria Civil Defence told Al Jazeera that Saturday's Russian air strikes targeted the town of Maarat al-Numaan, 290km north of the capital, killing at least 43 people and injuring at least 150 others.
"Our volunteers are still in the area that was targeted by the air strikes. They are still trying to help those injured and affected by the attack," the coordinator for the Idlib Syria Civil Defence told Al Jazeera.
"Many of those injured are in very serious conditions, the death toll is expected to rise," he added.
Known also as the White Helmets, the Syria Civil Defence is a group of volunteer rescuers formed in 2013 that now numbers more than 2,700 volunteers.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 39, adding that the air strikes targeted a court and a prison in Maarat al-Numaan.
Anas Maarawi, a media activist in Idlib, told Al Jazeera that the attacks targeted a court and a prison in Maarat al-Numaan.
"The first floor of the court was targeted in addition to a prison. We are getting reports that at least 53 have been killed in these air strikes," Maarawi said.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/01/russian-air-strikes-syria-idlib-160109133018717.html