Suspected gas attack on Syria's rebel-held Idlib kills at least 35: Observatory

BEIRUT: A suspected gas attack by Syrian government or Russian jets killed at least 35 people, including nine children, in the northwestern province of Idlib on Tuesday, a British-based war monitoring group said.

The Syrian army could not immediately be reached for comment. Damascus has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons.

The attack caused many people to choke or faint, and some had foam coming out of their mouths, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, citing medical sources who described it as a sign of a gas attack.

The air strikes also wounded more than 60 people in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in rebel-held Idlib, the Observatory said.

Activists in northern Syria circulated pictures on social media showing a reported victim with foam around his mouth, and rescue workers hosing down almost naked children squirming on the floor.

A Syrian military source said last week allegations that government forces were using chemical weapons were "devoid of truth".

Pro-opposition Orient News television said the attack on Tuesday killed 50 people and injured more than 150.

(Updated)

Air strikes kill at least 18 in Syria's Idlib: Observatory

BEIRUT: Air strikes killed at least 18 people and wounded dozens in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human rights said.

The attack caused many people to choke or faint, and some had foam coming out of their mouths, the Observatory said, citing medical sources who described it as a sign of a gas attack. Damascus has repeatedly denied using any such weapons.

Syrian government or Russian jets pounded the town of Khan Sheikhoun in rebel-held Idib in the morning, the Britain-based war monitoring group said. The Syrian army could not immediately be reached for comment.

Pro-opposition Orient News television said the strikes had killed 50 people and injured more than 150.