Syria: Airstrikes Kill 90, Hours After US-Russia Ceasefire Deal

The US and Russia agreed a ceasefire, set to begin on Monday.

In this file photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, men stand in rubble after airstrikes hit eastern Aleppo. Image used for representation. (Photo: AP)

At least 90 people were killed in airstrikes in northern Syria just hours after the US and Russia reached an agreement on a ceasefire, set to begin on Monday.

According to UK-based nonprofit group, Syrian Observatory For Human Rights (SOHR), 58 people were killed in an airstrike on a market in the city of Idlib and another 32 when warplanes bombed the Aleppo province, EFE news reported.

SOHR said the death toll could rise, as numerous people were also wounded in the bombings, some critically.

There were also airstrikes in other parts of the Idlib province including near Jisr al-Shughur, Ain Al-Bayda, Hambushia and Bidama.

Currently, airstrikes are being carried out in Syria by the government, Russia, Turkey and the US-led international coalition.

The ceasefire agreement was announced on Saturday by US Secretary of State John Kerry who said he had reached the deal with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

The announcement came after intensive US-Russian talks in Geneva in a bid to end the five-year-long fighting in the Arab country.

Saturday’s long violence however shows that it might be difficult to implement the US-Russia agreement as both countries enjoy limited influence on the government and insurgent groups to cease the bombardment.

A cease-fire reached by the two world powers earlier this year and put into effect in late February failed shortly afterward and was followed by months of violence that killed thousands.

Russia is a main backer of Assad’s government while the US has been supporting rebel groups trying to remove him from power.

(With inputs from IANS and AP.)