Syrian regime shells opposition-held territories in key provinces

Regime airstrikes hit a number of opposition-controlled areas across Syria, including renewed shelling in Aleppo, Homs and the Latakia province.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

17 May, 2016

Aleppo - Sikari

Regime warplanes shelled opposition-held territories in Aleppo on Tuesday, a day after at least six civilians were killed in air raids on the neighbourhood of Sikari in the city.

Syrian forces also clashed with armed opposition groups in the northern suburbs of Latakia province, local sources reported.

"Regime airstrikes targeted the Handarat camp in northern Aleppo," on Tuesday morning, local sources in Aleppo told The New Arab. The site is controlled by armed opposition groups.

"The neighbouring areas were also shelled by governmental ground forces," sources added.

Syrian airstrikes targeted the Sikari neighbourhood on Monday evening, killing at least six civilians, including two women and a child. Dozens more were left injured, mostly women and children, local activist Mohammed al-Halabi told The New Arab.

"Many more bodies remain under the rubbles, so the death toll is expected to rise," Halabi added.

Meanwhile, regime airstrikes killed at least two civilians in opposition-held northern Homs on Tuesday, activists told The New Arab.

"Regime warplanes targeted Rastan city in Homs, resulting in a number of civilian casualties, including one woman, killed during the shelling of nearby Birj Aji village," spokesman for Homs Media Centre Mohammed Sibai told The New Arab.

Over 300 civilians have been killed in a fresh wave of violence and regime airstrikes on April 22, mostly in Aleppo, before a temporary truce brought some calm to opposition-held areas.

The United Nations has sought in vain to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict, which has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.