Syria rebels urge UN to condemn 'barbaric onslaught' on Idlib after Russia warplane downed

A Syrian rebel coalition have called on the United Nations to take action against a "barbaric onslaught" on the rebel-held Idlib province by Russian warplanes after one of its warplanes was shot down.

The Istanbul-based National Coalition said in a statement on Sunday that Russian warplanes have carried out at least 40 airstrikes in Idlib, killing dozens of civilians, and accused the Syrian regime of dropping chemical weapons.

A Russian pilot was killed on Saturday in fighting with Islamists after his warplane was downed over northwest Syria.

"The relentless bombings have killed and wounded dozens of civilians. The Russian and Assad regime jets and helicopters were still hovering over many parts of Idlib province on Sunday evening," the National Coalition said.

"The Coalition calls on the UN Security Council to take immediate action and issue a resolution condemning Russia's atrocious crimes against the Syrian people," it added.

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Idlib province is directly south of Afrin canton, where Turkish troops are battling Kurdish fighters who previously allied with the US to fight the Islamic State group

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Idlib has been under a "violent bombardment" in the aftermath of the downing of the Russian jet, leading to the death of 10 civilians.

The SOHR also said five people were treated for "suffocation" on Sunday after Syrian regime airstrikes on the northwestern town of Saraqeb.

The monitor quoted residents and medical sources as saying "toxic gas" was used in the attack, without elaborating.

Local Syrian media have released footage of the Russian pilots alleged last stand against rebels after his Su-25 jet was downed.

Another video apparently shows rebels standing around the dead body of the pilot.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a powerful extremist-dominated alliance has said on an affiliated media channel it had shot down the Russian plane but made no mention of the pilot.

HTS said the attack was in retaliation for a ferocious bombing campaign by Russian warplanes over Idlib.

HTS, which is dominated by al-Qaeda's former affiliate in Syria, controls Idlib and has sought to fight back a ferocious Russian-backed assault by Syrian government troops.

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