Syrian activists said Monday more than 70 civilians were killed in air raids on several areas in Idlib governorate southwest Syria, Al-Arabiya Satellite Channel reported.

The airstrike targeted Maret el Noaman city where more than 30 people were killed, while intensive shelling continued to target residential areas and markets in Idlib neighbourhoods.

Syria has been locked in a devastating civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests -- which erupted as part of the "Arab Spring" uprisings.

Since then, hundreds of thousands of people are believed to have been killed and millions more displaced by the conflict.

Source: MENA