Air strikes across rebel-held Syria kill and wound scores

BEIRUT (AP) -- Warplanes struck rebel-held parts of Syria yesterday hitting a women's prison and a clinic, killing and wounding scores of people, amid clashes on multiple fronts between government forces and insurgent groups in some of the worst violence the country has witnessed in weeks.

The air strikes, of which some activists said included Russian air raids, concentrated on the rebel-held north western province of Idlib, the central province of Hama and suburbs of the capital Damascus that have come under attack by insurgent groups over the past week.

One of the air strikes hit a main street in the Damascus suburb of Hamouriyeh killing at least 16 people and wounded more than 50/

The air strikes caused wide destruction in the area.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the air strikes killed 16, including eight women and children, and wounded more than 50. The Local Coordination said 18 were killed and dozens were wounded.

Both groups said some people are still missing, and that the death toll could rise.