Russia raids on Qaeda-run Syria prison 'kill at least 10'

At least 10 people were killed on Saturday in Russian air strikes on a prison complex run by Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate in the country's northwest, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes hit an Al-Nusra Front building, which lies near a popular market in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province.

The building housed the group's religious court and a jail.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said the dead included prisoners and Al-Nusra fighters, and could include civilians who had been at the market.

Dozens of people were also wounded and many remained trapped under the rubble, the monitor said.

Russian warplanes have been conducting air strikes in Syria since September 30 against the Islamic State jihadist group and "other terrorist groups."

Although Al-Nusra and IS are both jihadist organisations, they are fierce rivals and regularly clash in Syria.

The Britain-based Observatory has an extensive network of sources inside Syria and identifies casualties by the type of aircraft flown and the munitions used.

Idlib province is controlled by the Army of Conquest rebel alliance, headed by Al-Nusra and hardliner group Ahrar al-Sham.

Syria's conflict first erupted with anti-government demonstrations in March 2011 but has since morphed into a bloody war that has left more than 260,000 people dead.
Source: AFP