Russia has denied conducting overnight airstrikes on the rebel-held Syrian city of Idlib.  

The pro-opposition monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says airstrikes struck a number of positions in the city, killing 23 people, including seven children. 

Russia's Defense Ministry says Russian planes did not carry out any combat missions on the rebel stronghold. Idlib has been held by the Al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front and its allies since March last year.