The United Nations has voiced deep concern over the escalating violence in northwestern Syria, which poses an increasing risk to civilians.

Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the ongoing fighting caused the death and injury to dozens of civilians in the past weeks, including women and children.

"The latest reports indicate that shelling in Beiyloun village in southern rural Idlib on Thursday killed seven civilians, including three children. Seven other civilians were injured, including a girl," Haq said.

"Such attacks raise further concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law, which requires the parties to take all feasible precautions to avoid and minimize civilian harm," he added.

According to Anadolu Agency correspondent, 13 people were killed on Sunday in attacks by Syrian regime forces and allied terror groups on residential areas in the northwestern Idlib province.

Idlib falls within a de-escalation zone forged under an agreement between Turkey and Russia in March 2020. The Syrian regime, however, has consistently violated the terms of the cease-fire, launching frequent attacks inside the de-escalation zone.

Syria has been mired in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Over the past decade, around half a million people have been killed and more than 12 million had to flee their homes./aa