A government air strike on a town in north Syria has killed 14 people, including two women and eight children, activists say.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the 14 were killed in a strike today on the town of al-Safira, south of the northern city of Aleppo.

An activist gave the names of the dead and said the government often strikes the town because rebels are attacking a large military complex on its outskirts.

Rebels clashed with soldiers there today, he said.

Activists say the regime often takes revenge for rebel advances by bombing residential areas. They say more than 40,000 have been killed in Syria since the start of the uprising against President Bashar Assad in March 2011.