Air Raids Kill 18 Civilians in Syria's Aleppo
Air raids on rebel-held districts of Syria's battleground second city of Aleppo killed 18 civilians on Saturday, a monitor said.
"Eleven civilians, including four children, were killed by air raids after midnight in the Bab al-Nasr area of Old Aleppo, and seven others, including a baby, were killed in Fardous neighborhood," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources across Syria for its information, warned that the toll could rise due to the number of critically wounded.
An Agence France Presse correspondent at the scene said helicopters and fighter jets were still circling rebel-held neighborhoods, adding that barrel bombs -- crude, unguided explosive devices -- had been dropped on several areas.
The Observatory said rebel fighters shelled government-controlled western areas of Aleppo, but had no immediate word on any casualties.
Aleppo city is divided roughly between government control in the west and rebel control in the east.
A ceasefire brokered by Russia and the United States in February between government forces and non-jihadist rebels does not cover al-Qaida affiliate al-Nusra Front which has a strong presence in many rebel-held areas.
The truce has been routinely violated, particularly in and around Aleppo.
Last week, government forces advanced to within firing range of the last remaining supply route into rebel-held areas of the city, prompting food shortages and spiraling prices.
Source: Agence France Presse
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