Russian strikes yesterday 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 militant organisations, they are fierce rivals and regularly clash in Syria.
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 260,000 people dead.
The Syrian government told UN envoy Staffan de Mistura yesterday it was ready to participate but wants to know who would take part from the opposition, Syrian state media reported.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem also said it was important to see a list of groups that would be classified as terrorists as part of the new diplomatic process, flagging another potential complication.
Syrian rebels and opposition politicians have expressed doubts over whether the peace talks will begin as planned. Their concerns over the diplomatic bid include the absence of any mention of Assad’s fate.
Earlier this week, they told de Mistura that before negotiations the Syrian government must stop bombing civilian areas, release detainees and lift blockades imposed on opposition-held areas.
“Can the international community achieve the implementation of this pre-negotiation stage in the few remaining days? If it can, there is no problem. But I doubt they can,” Riyad Naasan Agha, a member of the opposition council, said.
Another opposition official said on Friday the opposition would not name its negotiating team until the government did so.
The outlook for the talks has been further clouded by increased tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which back opposing sides in the conflict.