IDLIB, Syria

Eighteen civilians were killed on Friday in Syrian regime air strikes that targeted Idlib province, an opposition group said.

The Syrian Revolution General Commission said the attacks targeted at least five villages and a hospital and came in response to advances by the Syrian opposition against the regime in Hama.

Earlier on Friday, Syrian opposition forces announced the capture of two towns on the outskirts of Hama. Tens of Assad regime forces were killed in the offensive.

The Syria conflict began when the regime of President Bashar al-Assad launched a violent crackdown on protests that erupted as part of the “Arab Spring” uprisings in 2011.

The conflict has left more than 220,000 people dead, according to the UN.