Airstrike on Syrian Al Qaeda-run prison kills at least 39

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. In the multisided conflict, it is opposed by government forces, rival Islamic State extremists and some U.S.-backed rebel factions.

Damascus views all the groups fighting to topple Assad as terrorists, including rebels who support a political solution and are represented in a recently formed opposition council tasked with overseeing the negotiations.

The monitoring group said most of those killed were rebels imprisoned by Al-Nusra, while other victims included prison guards and Al-Nusra fighters.

Other activists said the warplane that struck the prison of Maret al-Numan and the courthouse there was Russian, adding that the city is under the control of the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.

The London based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said at least 39 people have been killed but another group – the Local Coordination Committees – has said the death toll is at 51.

Saudi Arabia said on Sunday its cutting of diplomatic and commercial ties with Iran was a first step and it could take more action if Tehran did not change its policies, but it did not expect the dispute to affect efforts to end the war in Syria.

De Mistura arrived in Beirut later Saturday and boarded a plane heading to Qatar, airport officials said in Beirut on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Russian airstrikes in Syria are an increasing source of worldwide contention, as the Kremlin continues to disregard the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) in the interest of protecting its alliance with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

De Mistura’s office said the envoy had a “useful” meeting with the Syrian foreign minister. Over 250,000 people have been killed over the past few years of turmoil.

A UN Security Council resolution adopted on December 18 setting out a road map for peace talks called on the parties to allow aid agencies unhindered access throughout Syria particularly in besieged and hard-to-reach areas.

The Syrian opposition is demanding some gestures by the government ahead of the talks including lifting sieges imposed on rebel-held areas, releasing some detainees and ending airstrikes.