At least 12 civilians killed in Russian airstrike on Deir az-Zour

At least 12 civilians were killed on Monday when a suspected Russian airstrike struck the town of Qouriya in the eastern Syrian town of Deir az-Zour.

Local sources told The New Arab that an aircraft, believed to be Russian, struck at civilian houses with highly explosive missiles in the town of Qouriya, killing 12 civilians, including women and children.

The airstrike resulted in a number of wounded, some of which declared critically injured, prompting an expected increase in the death toll.

The source added that most of the victims were displaced while fleeing the ongoing fighting in the IS-held city of Raqqa.

Russian airstrike had bombed the town of Muhsin in the eastern countryside of Deir az-Zour on Sunday afternoon. Five civilians, including three children were killed and dozens others were injured.

Meanwhile, sources told The New Arab that nearly 800 detainees in the central prison of Homs began a rebellion on Sunday, demanding the Syrian regime releases them.

Hundreds who have been detained by the Syrian regime on political grounds are living in inhumane conditions.

Some of the political prisoners have been sentenced to life in prison while others have received death sentences.