BEIRUT — Russian warplanes have mounted a new wave of airstrikes since Thursday night in northwestern and western Syria, a Syrian military source and state TV said on Friday. The source said the 18 airstrikes were in the provinces of Idlib, Hama and Aleppo and were against Daesh (the so-called IS) targets. The airstrikes however appeared at least partly focused on areas hit earlier this week by the Russians where Daesh has little or no presence. Insurgents operating in Idlib and Hama provinces are mostly from rebel groups battling to topple President Bashar Al-Assad. Those groups also have a foothold in Aleppo province, where Daesh also operates. Separately, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 12 Daesh fighters had been killed in a Russian airstrike in Raqqa province on Thursday. The province is mostly under Daesh control. — Reuters
