At least 15 killed as Syrian government, rebels exchange fire

This picture taken on March 22, 2019 shows a smoke plume rising following a reported air strike in the Syrian town of Kafraya in the north of Idlib province. [AFP]

At least 15 people were reported killed on Sunday in shelling by government and insurgent forces in northwestern Syria, further straining a Russian-Turkish ceasefire deal for the region.

The northwest is the last major foothold of insurgents opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, many of whom were forced to retreat there after military defeats at the hands of Syrian government forces backed by Iran and Russia.