Air strikes by Syrian regime ally Russia on Sunday killed nine civilians in the jihadist-run enclave of Idlib in the northwest of the country, a war monitor said.

Hundreds of members of the White Helmets - a volunteer Syrian search and rescue organization - who were evacuated to Jordan are now on their way to be resettled in western countries, Jordan's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Israeli military said that it had completed "a humanitarian effort to rescue members of a Syrian civil organisation and their families".

Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome said yesterday he expected this year’s Herald Sun Tour to be “even more competitive” and a tough battle against local and international challengers.