Beirut, April 16 (IANS): At least 20 people, including six children, were killed in attacks carried out by the Syrian regime forces on the outskirts of Damascus and the northern province of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Eight of the victims, including four children, were killed in Taftanaz village, in Idlib, after government aircraft dropped barrel bombs on Wednesday.

Two more children from same family were killed in a similar attack in Sermin town, along with two other men, amid aerial bombardments in Al Sahin and Martin villages, all located in Idlib as well.

Most of the province was under the control of Islamist rebels, except the Mastuma army base and areas of Ariha, Fuah and Jisr al-Shoghour.

The London-based NGO said on Wednesday that at least 260 civilians, 81 of whom are minors, and 80 fighters of different factions, including Al Nusra Front and Islamic State, have been killed since the beginning of April in regime airstrikes.