Syrian jets pound Kurdish positions for first time

The first Syrian government air raids on Kurdish positions took place in Hassakeh on Thursday, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

18 August, 2016

At least six Kurdish positions were hit [Getty]

Syrian government aircraft bombed Kurdish positions in the divided northeastern city of Hassakeh on Thursday, the first such strikes against a Kurdish-held area of Syria.

At least six Kurdish positions were hit, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Fighter jets were seen striking the position in the city, which as hosted heavy clashes between Kurdish fighters and pro-government militia since Wednesday.

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Kurdish activists posted footage from the alleged air raids on Twitter, although the video cannot be independently verified by The New Arab.

Meanwhile, the Syrian regime and Russia renewed their air raids in rebel-held districts of Syria's Aleppo on Wednesday, a day after a United Nations official warned of an unprecedented "humanitarian catastrophe".

Warplanes launched airstrikes on Aleppo's southern districts killing and injuring dozens, local sources told The New Arab.

The regime's shelling over the rebel-held city of Tariq al-Bab killed more than 20 people, just a day after heavy airstrikes had killed at least 19 civilians, including three children, and wounded dozens more.

Human Rights Watch accused Syrian and Russian warplanes of having repeatedly used incendiary weapons against civilians in northern Syria, saying it had documented their use at least 18 times since June.