Opposition activists have confirmed that at least 23 people including seven children have been killed after air strikes hit the Syrian city of Idlib.

According to reports, the air strikes were carried out near two hospitals and a mosque on Tuesday night. Several people are believed to be trapped under the rubble of their homes.

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Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims that a Russian aircraft carried out the strikes. However, Moscow has denied the reports.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Russia did not perform any combat tasks or air strikes in the Idlib province. Idlib is currently held by many militant groups such as al-Qaeda's branch in Syria, the Nusra Front.

Despite Russia's denial, an activist based in Idlib, Ahmad Ariha, claims the Russians are targeting the Nusra Front. Around 250 people were wounded in the attack, according to Ariha. He added that the Nusra Front has since evacuated all their civilian centers in the city. Ariha also claims the bombings destroyed vaccination centers in the village of Kfar Takharim.

Videos of relief workers using flashlights to rescue people trapped under the rubble have since surfaced on the internet. A boy in one of the videos is shown being rescued from a crushed building.

The Russian military's campaign supporting Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and his forces started last September. Russian is fighting the Islamic State in Syria.

Another activist, based in Turkey, Hassan Dughaim, said air attacks are either a way to set the ground for the offensive on Idlib or to make the resistance surrender. Some people allegedly tried to flee the city but the bombing followed them. Some bombings are said to have even even struck refugee camps. 

TagsSyria, Islamic State, Nusra Front, idlib, President Bashar al-Assad, Russian military, Airstrikes, seven children dead