Shortly before the ceasefire went into effect ... 18 people were killed and hundreds displaced as a result of raids by the Syrian regime in Idlib

18 civilians were killed by air strikes launched by Syrian regime fighters on several cities and towns in Idlib countryside.

The Al-Jazeera correspondent in northern Syria stated that the bombing resulted in significant damage to the buildings and property of civilians, and forced hundreds of families to flee again towards the Syrian-Turkish border.

These raids come hours before the cease-fire in Idlib - announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense - will come into effect on Sunday.

Eyewitnesses stated that 7 people were killed in Idlib, 4 in Nairab and 6 in Binnish, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 18 civilians were killed, including 6 children.

The Syrian official media did not report any air strikes by the Syrian army or Russia in these areas today, but said that the Syrian army forces "eliminated a number of terrorists during intense gunfire carried out against their positions and movements in the southeastern Idlib countryside."

The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that the air and ground attacks will stop a minute after midnight Sunday 12 January, according to a ceasefire agreement sought by Ankara weeks ago.