20 killed in Syrian government air raid

Syrian government warplanes bombed a predominantly Sunni village and killed at least 20 people, opposition activists said, as government forces pushed to retake territory in the western heartland of President Bashar Assad’s Alawite sect.

The rebel capture last week of 11 villages in the regime stronghold of Latakia province was a symbolic blow to Mr Assad, whose troops have otherwise been making gains in central Syria and around the capital Damascus.