An international human rights group has accused the Syrian military of committing war crimes just before a ceasefire came into effect on 12 April.

Human Rights Watch says fighting around Idlib province, in the north, may meet the definition of an “armed conflict”, as laid down by international law.

All forces engaged in armed conflict have to comply with internationally agreed minimum standards of conduct.

Separately, activists said 15 soldiers had been killed in a rebel ambush.The attack occurred at dawn near the village of al-Rai, in Aleppo province, where the military had “scaled up” operations since the ceasefire came into force, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.Two members of the rebel Free Syrian Army also died, it added.Another six soldiers were reportedly killed in clashes near Damascus.Russia said it “decisively” condemned the “new terrorist sorties”.