DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A barrage of mortar shells hit government-held areas of the northern city of Idlib on Monday, killing 14 people and wounding at least 40, Syrian state media said.

Idlib is the provincial capital in northwestern Syria and it has been under the control of President Bashar Assad’s troops since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in March 2011. Rebels trying to overthrow Assad’s government control the areas around the city. They have been besieging the city for more than two years, firing mortars into the government-held areas and clashing with Assad’s troops at its outskirts.