BEIRUT: Insurgents led by an Al Qaeda-linked group launched one of their widest offensives yet on Tuesday against Syrian pro-government forces, which responded with heavy air strikes targeting hospitals and first responders.

Pro-government media said the air strikes targeted insurgent supply lines from the northwestern Idlib province, a stronghold of the Al Qaeda-linked group.

Opposition activists and rescue workers said at least two civilians were killed. They said two hospitals, and two centres used by volunteer first responders known as the White Helmets, were rendered non-operational.

The offensive tests a newly announced “de-escalation zone” in Idlib, the latest of four such areas declared by Russia and Iran, which support the Syrian government, and Turkey, which backs the rebels. Fighting has largely subsided in the other three zones, near Damascus, in the central Homs province and in southern Syria.

The “de-escalation zones” have freed up Syrian troops and allied militias to battle the militant Islamic State group in the eastern Deir el-Zour province and other areas.

The Syrian government-affiliated Central Military Media outlet acknowledged the insurgent offensive just south of Idlib and said forces responded with intensive air strikes and shelling, killing a number of insurgents.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2017