PHOTO: Bombed district in Idlib city on Sunday

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UPDATE 1500 GMT: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has indicated that the surge in Russian airstrikes across northwest Syria will continue.

Speaking at a press conference alongside his Finnish counterpart, Lavrov said, “We will decide on how our air forces should act, depending on the situation. This will not be a surprise for the Americans.”

Lavrov used the pretext that both rebels and civilians are being attacked because they are in areas where Jabhat al-Nusra — excluded from a nominal February 27 “cessation of hostilities” — is present:

We believe there was plenty of time for the “normal” opposition to leave Nusra Front territories since February. Those who didn’t part ways with the terrorists have only themselves to blame.

The Foreign Minister cautioned the US, “We expect our partners to cooperate with us honestly and not try to use our regular contacts to secretly go with a Plan B, C or D behind our back.”

ORIGINAL ENTRY: The latest surge in Russian and regime airstikes killed scores of civilians in northwest Syria on Sunday.

Activists said at least 40 people were killed in Aleppo alone, as almost 50 airstrikes hit opposition areas in and near Syria’s largest city. The Local Coordination Committees put the toll across Aleppo Province at 49.

At least 11 more people were reportedly slain in neighboring Idlib Province.

Despite a supposed “cessation of hostilities” from February 27, the Russian and Syrian air forces have continued to bomb civilian sites, including hospitals, other medical facilities, schools, markets, and mosques. However, the attacks have surged in the past week, as pro-Assad forces suffered another defeat on the front south of Aleppo.

Last Monday, dozens of people were killed by strikes near Idlib’s National Hospital, with more dying on subsequent days across Idlib, Aleppo, and Homs Provinces.

In one incident on Sunday, 18 bodies were pulled from destroyed buildings in the Qaterji district of Aleppo city.

The scene in one of the opposition-held neighborhoods:

Injured children from the al-Khalaseh district:

Meanwhile, State media continue to claim that rebel mortars and rockets are killing dozens of people on the regime-held side of Aleppo. Regime outlets claimed that 20 people died on Sunday and 44 over the weekend.

The Russian “Center for Reconciliation” went even farther, claiming — without support — “militants from terrorist groups have shelled Syrian cities killing more than 270 peaceful civilians and leaving hundreds of people injured”. The Russians declared that, in the Sheikh Maqsoud district, the “militants…used armored vehicles“.

Trying to justify attacks on all rebel factions, Syria’s Foreign Ministry said in letters to the UN that “moderate opposition” were involved alongside Jabhat al-Nusra, which is excluded from the cessation of hostilities: “[These are] “part of the series of the systematic terrorist acts plotted and prepared by the Turkish regime”.

Warplane Downed on Southern Aleppo Front

One of the attacking warplanes was downed on the southern Aleppo front.

Rebels said they downed the Su-24 jet fighter. It is unclear whether the pilots were Russian or Syrian, and whether they were killed or captured.

The incident occurred near the town of al-Khalasa, where advancing rebels have been attacking since last Friday. The rebel bloc Jaish al-Fatah has taken a series of villages and fuel and ammunition depots from Iranian-led forces, in the third significant victory on the front for the rebels and Jabhat al-Nusra since early April.

Regime Military Advisor: US Using Kurds to Seize Raqqa

Pointing towards a contest with Kurdish-led and US-supported forces for control of Raqqa in northern Syria, a military advisor to the Assad regime has declared an American plot to seize the Islamic State-controlled city for a “foothold” in the country.

Retired General Yahya Suleiman, a former head of Syria’s National Defense Institute, told Iranian media:

The Syrian army’s operations in Raqqa was a reaction to the US plot to task the Syrian Democratic Forces to establish a Kurdish area in the region. Syria chose to advance towards Raqqa after reviewing its list of priorities.

Suleiman proclaimed that the offensive by the Syrian army and pro-Assad militias “will not have much trouble” to recapture Raqqa city from the Islamic State.

Video: Gathering of Regime Troops and Vehicles for Raqqa Operation

Footage of Syrian military gathered inside the borders of Raqqa Province for the first time since 2014:

Regime forces entered Raqqa, largely controlled by the Islamic State, on Friday. After initial resistance by ISIS, in which the border village of Abu Allaj changed hands three times in 48 hours, the Syrian Army and private militia Desert Hawks have moved along the Salamiyah-Raqqa highway. One pro-regime outlet puts the advance units at 30 km (19 miles) from the Taqba airbase.

However, one observer is not impressed by the video: “Very reckless amassing of troops, SVBIED [suicide vehicle bomb] driver’s dream.”

Report: British Special Forces with “New Syrian Army” in Southeast

The Times of London reports that British special forces are working with the New Syrian Army, supported by Western countries to fight the Islamic State in southeastern Syria.

First Lieutenant Mahmoud al-Saleh said British forces frequently crossed the border to assist with the defense of the village of al-Tanf, near a border crossing with Iraq: “They helped us with logistics, like building defences to make the bunkers safe.”

The NSA, formed in late 2015, captured the al-Tanf crossing in March. However, last month it was damaged by an ISIS suicide bombing that killed many fighters.

See Syria Analysis: A New US-Backed Rebel Front in South v. ISIS? Not Quite.

Saleh said the attacks continue: “They attack us at all times, 3am, 5am, 4pm, 11pm. If you look at the timing of the assaults it’s clear they don’t want us to get any rest. They’re using missiles, mortars and many suicide bombers.”

British special forces have been involved throughout the Syrian conflict, especially during rebel operations in 2012 and 2013. However, their role diminished with fracturing of rebel groups and uncertainty over British policy. The declaration of a campaign against the Islamic State re-opened the possibilities for their use, alongside the involvement of US counterparts.