At least 20 civilians were killed in a US-led coalition air strike in a village near the Islamic State&#39;s Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday.

&quot;The toll has risen to 20 civilians, including nine women and two children,&quot; Observatory chief Rami Abdul Rahman said, news agency AFP reported. The monitor had earlier put the death toll at 16.

The monitor&nbsp;said dozens of people were also wounded in the strikes Tuesday night on the village of Al-Heisha, 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Raqqa, AFP said.&nbsp;Rahman said that all casualties were civilians.

The coalition confirmed it conducted the air strikes in the area but said it was investigating if civilians were killed.&nbsp;

&quot;After an initial assessment of strike logs against the date and location of the alleged civilian casualties, the coalition confirms it did conduct strikes in the area described in the allegation,&quot; Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesman for the coalition, told AFP. &quot;However, more specific information is needed to conclusively determine responsibility.&quot;

Dorrian asserted that the coalition forces stick to &quot;stringent targeting processes and procedures&quot; to minimise civilian casualties.

Jihan Sheikh, a spokeswoman for the Kurdish-Arab alliance, dismissed the reports saying, &quot;There is no such thing, and any such claims are IS news&quot;.

The media account of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported the death of at least 6 Islamic State (IS) fighters in the coalition air strike on the village. They accused the jihadist group of using the civilians trying to leave Al-Heisha as &quot;humans shields&quot;. Syria announced a bid to recapture Islamic State&#39;s &#39;capital&#39; Raqqa on Sunday. IS-controlled Al-Heisha has been the target of a new US-backed Syrian offensive&nbsp;to recapture Raqqa.

Civilians fleeing Al-Heisha told AFP on Tuesday that IS fighters had brought heavy weaponry into the village when the SDF operation began.

&quot;Daesh (IS) fighters brought heavy weapons to our village and stayed among us so that if there were strikes they would hit us,&quot; 45-year-old Saada al-Aboud said.

&quot;They wouldn&#39;t let us leave. We had to escape by running out into the fields, with our children and old people. What else could we do? We left everything behind.&quot;

The Observatory said the latest deaths brought the number of civilians killed since&nbsp;the US-led air strikes in Syria began in September 2014 to 680, including 169 children, AFP said.

(With inputs from AFP)

The coalition confirmed it conducted the air strikes in the area but said it was investigating if civilians were killed

At least 20 civilians were killed in a US-led coalition air strike in a village near the Islamic State's Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday. "The toll has risen to 20 civilians, including nine women and two children," Observatory chief Rami Abdul Rahman said, news agency AFP reported. The monitor had earlier put the death toll at 16. The monitor said dozens of people were also wounded in the strikes Tuesday night on the village of Al-Heisha, 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Raqqa, AFP said. Rahman said that all casualties were civilians. The coalition confirmed it conducted the air strikes in the area but said it was investigating if civilians were killed. "After an initial assessment of strike logs against the date and location of the alleged civilian casualties, the coalition confirms it did conduct strikes in the area described in the allegation," Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesman for the coalition, told AFP. "However, more specific information is needed to conclusively determine responsibility." Dorrian asserted that the coalition forces stick to "stringent targeting processes and procedures" to minimise civilian casualties. Jihan Sheikh, a spokeswoman for the Kurdish-Arab alliance, dismissed the reports saying, "There is no such thing, and any such claims are IS news". The media account of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported the death of at least 6 Islamic State (IS) fighters in the coalition air strike on the village. They accused the jihadist group of using the civilians trying to leave Al-Heisha as "humans shields". Syria announced a bid to recapture Islamic State's 'capital' Raqqa on Sunday. IS-controlled Al-Heisha has been the target of a new US-backed Syrian offensive to recapture Raqqa. Civilians fleeing Al-Heisha told AFP on Tuesday that IS fighters had brought heavy weaponry into the village when the SDF operation began. "Daesh (IS) fighters brought heavy weapons to our village and stayed among us so that if there were strikes they would hit us," 45-year-old Saada al-Aboud said. "They wouldn't let us leave. We had to escape by running out into the fields, with our children and old people. What else could we do? We left everything behind." The Observatory said the latest deaths brought the number of civilians killed since the US-led air strikes in Syria began in September 2014 to 680, including 169 children, AFP said. (With inputs from AFP)

US-led coalition raid 'kills 20 civilians' near Syria's Raqqa: Monitor

Airstrikes killed at least 22 people in Syria&#39;s rebel-held Idlib province today, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was quoted as saying by international news agency Reuters. Seven of them were children.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Several locations in the Haas village were hit by the warplanes, including an elementary and middle school, killing at least one teacher as well as the children, said the British-based war monitor.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A military source told a Syrian state TV that a number of militants had been killed when their positions were targeted in Haas, however, he did not mention a school, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Syria&#39;s civil war pits President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia, Iran and Shi&#39;ite Muslim militias from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan against an array of mostly Sunni rebel groups including some backed by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the US.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

It said warplanes struck several locations in the Haas village, including an elementary and middle school, killing a teacher and students

Airstrikes killed at least 22 people in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province today, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was quoted as saying by international news agency Reuters. Seven of them were children. Several locations in the Haas village were hit by the warplanes, including an elementary and middle school, killing at least one teacher as well as the children, said the British-based war monitor. A military source told a Syrian state TV that a number of militants had been killed when their positions were targeted in Haas, however, he did not mention a school, Reuters reported. Syria's civil war pits President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia, Iran and Shi'ite Muslim militias from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan against an array of mostly Sunni rebel groups including some backed by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the US. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Students among 22 dead in Idlib strikes: Monitor

At least 22 people were killed on Monday when a suicide attacker blew himself at an SDF member&#39;s wedding in the northeastern province of Hasakeh, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Observatory head&nbsp;Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, &quot; A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a hall in Tall Tawil village during the wedding of a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces, killing at least 22 civilians.&quot;

However, a hospital source said there were &quot;more than 20 dead and dozens wounded&quot; in the suicide attack.&nbsp;

A relative of the groom&nbsp;told AFP the bride and groom were safe. The Syrian monitor and local Kurdish officials had earlier said the groom had been killed.&nbsp;

The Syrian Democratic Forces, an Arab-kurdish coalition, are fighting Islamic State militants in northern Syria.&nbsp;

A wedding guest, Ahmad, told AFP, &quot;As the bride and groom were exchanging their vows I saw a man wearing a thick black jacket pass beside me.&quot;

&quot;I thought he looked strange and a few seconds later there was an enormous explosion,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;People had fallen on the ground and I saw bodies torn to bits, &quot; he added. Ahmad&#39;s head was wounded in the blast.

Islamic State issued a statement saying one of its fighters attacked a &quot;large gathering&quot; of Kurdish fighters, killing 40 north of Hasakeh. The statement did not mention a wedding.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

'People had fallen on the ground and I saw bodies torn to bits,' said one witness

At least 22 people were killed on Monday when a suicide attacker blew himself at an SDF member's wedding in the northeastern province of Hasakeh, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, " A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a hall in Tall Tawil village during the wedding of a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces, killing at least 22 civilians." However, a hospital source said there were "more than 20 dead and dozens wounded" in the suicide attack. A relative of the groom told AFP the bride and groom were safe. The Syrian monitor and local Kurdish officials had earlier said the groom had been killed. The Syrian Democratic Forces, an Arab-kurdish coalition, are fighting Islamic State militants in northern Syria. A wedding guest, Ahmad, told AFP, "As the bride and groom were exchanging their vows I saw a man wearing a thick black jacket pass beside me." "I thought he looked strange and a few seconds later there was an enormous explosion," he said. "People had fallen on the ground and I saw bodies torn to bits, " he added. Ahmad's head was wounded in the blast. Islamic State issued a statement saying one of its fighters attacked a "large gathering" of Kurdish fighters, killing 40 north of Hasakeh. The statement did not mention a wedding. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Suicide attack on Syria wedding kills 22

At least 52 civilians were killed on Saturday in the Syrian government&#39;s offensive on the rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo city, a monitor said. 
 
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the toll was expected to rise because people were trapped under rubble. 
 
The ceasefire brokered by the US and Russia has collapsed, and the Syrian military announced a new offensive to recapture the city on Thursday. Scores of people have been killed since then.&nbsp; 
 
There was massive destruction in several neighbourhoods, including Al-Kalasseh and Bustan al-Qasr, where some streets were almost erased by the bombardment, AFP reported. 
 
At least 47 people were killed on Friday in heavy bombing, the Observatory reported. Seven of those killed were children. Reuters reported&nbsp;Hamza al-Khatib, head of a hospital in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, saying that 91 people had died in Friday&#39;s bombardment.&nbsp;The air strikes razed buildings, including several bases of the civil defence organisation White Helmet. The group has only two fire engines left for all of east Aleppo, AFP reported, and is struggling to get around the city.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, government forces siezed the rebel-held Handarat camp north of Aleppo in the first ground offensive on Saturday. The rebels had controlled the camp for years.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Handarat has fallen,&quot; an official with one of the main Aleppo rebel groups told Reuters. An army statement confirmed a &quot;large number of terrorists&quot; have been killed, Reuters reported.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Govt forces also seized the rebel-held Handarat camp to the north of the city

At least 52 civilians were killed on Saturday in the Syrian government's offensive on the rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo city, a monitor said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the toll was expected to rise because people were trapped under rubble. The ceasefire brokered by the US and Russia has collapsed, and the Syrian military announced a new offensive to recapture the city on Thursday. Scores of people have been killed since then. There was massive destruction in several neighbourhoods, including Al-Kalasseh and Bustan al-Qasr, where some streets were almost erased by the bombardment, AFP reported. At least 47 people were killed on Friday in heavy bombing, the Observatory reported. Seven of those killed were children. Reuters reported Hamza al-Khatib, head of a hospital in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, saying that 91 people had died in Friday's bombardment. The air strikes razed buildings, including several bases of the civil defence organisation White Helmet. The group has only two fire engines left for all of east Aleppo, AFP reported, and is struggling to get around the city. Meanwhile, government forces siezed the rebel-held Handarat camp north of Aleppo in the first ground offensive on Saturday. The rebels had controlled the camp for years. "Handarat has fallen," an official with one of the main Aleppo rebel groups told Reuters. An army statement confirmed a "large number of terrorists" have been killed, Reuters reported. (WION with inputs from agencies)

At least 52 killed in govt offensive on eastern Aleppo: Observer

Syrian regime forces and rebel factions sent hundreds of reinforcements to Aleppo today as opposition fighters announced an all-out offensive to take the country&#39;s second city. 
 
The battle for Syria&#39;s former economic powerhouse is intensifying after an opposition advance at the weekend broke through a three-week government siege of the city&#39;s rebel-held east, dealing a major setback to regime troops. 
 
Rebel forces yesterday announced a bid to capture all of Aleppo city, which if successful would mark the biggest opposition victory yet in Syria&#39;s five-year civil war. 
 
But forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are putting up a fierce fight and have begun pouring reinforcements into the city. 
 
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said some 2,000 pro-regime fighters from Syria, Iraq, Iran and Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah had arrived in Aleppo since late yesterday. 
 
&quot;Both sides are amassing their fighters in preparation for the great battle of Aleppo,&quot; said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Observatory. 
 
The Monday edition of Al-Watan, a Syrian daily close to the government, reported that the army had received &quot;the necessary military reinforcements to launch the battle to retake the areas from which it withdrew.&quot; 
 
Citing a source on the ground, the paper said military warplanes &quot;are carrying out a barrage of air strikes targeting the armed groups.&quot; 
 
&#39;New phase to liberate Aleppo&#39; 
 
Aleppo has been roughly divided between government forces in the west and rebel groups in the east since fighting first broke out there in mid-2012. 
 
After years of stalemate, fighting for the city entered a new phase last month when government forces took control of the last supply road into rebel-held areas, leaving some 250,000 people in eastern districts surrounded. 
 
In a desperate bid to break the siege, a coalition of rebels, Islamists and jihadists overran a series of buildings in a military academy on the southwestern edges of Aleppo on Saturday. 
 
They then pushed northeast to link up with rebel groups inside the city. 
 
Emboldened by the victory, the fighters - largely grouped under the banner of the Army of Conquest - then set their sights on recapturing all of Aleppo city. 
 
In a statement yesterday, the Army of Conquest announced &quot;the start of a new phase to liberate all of Aleppo,&quot; pledging to &quot;double the number of fighters for this next battle.&quot; 
 
Abdel Rahman told AFP today that hundreds of opposition fighters had arrived in Aleppo from the surrounding province and neighbouring Idlib. 
 
Most were from the Fateh al-Sham Front, the powerful jihadist group previously affiliated with Al-Qaeda that leads the Army of Conquest. The group changed its name from Al-Nusra Front last month after breaking with Al-Qaeda. 
 
&quot;Whoever wins (in Aleppo), the war will not end. It is however an important battle, the result of which will set the course of the conflict,&quot; said Thomas Pierret, a Syria expert at the University of Edinburgh. 
 
&quot;If the rebels win, Syria will head towards partition, with a regime arc in the Golan Heights, Damascus, Homs, and the coast,&quot; he said. 
 
But if the regime wins, Pierret expected a &quot;collapse&quot; of the rebel insurgency in its heartland of Idlib. 
 
Aid to regime areas 
 
Residents of both sides of the city have been living in fear of competing sieges of their neighbourhoods in recent weeks. 
 
The rebel advance at the weekend cut off a key regime access route on the city&#39;s southern edges, which had been used to bring in supplies for the estimated 1.2 million residents of western districts. 
 
Overnight, regime forces brought in dozens of trucks carrying food and fuel into the western neighbourhoods via the northern Castello Road, according to the Observatory. 
 
&quot;This is the new route that the regime forces are securing as a temporary alternative to the route they previously depended on,&quot; Abdel Rahman said. 
 
Syrian state television Al-Ikhbariyah confirmed that &quot;fuel, food, and vegetables entered Aleppo city.&quot; 
 
A military source in Damascus denied that the city&#39;s west had been besieged, saying &quot;the situation is under control and the situation is not worrisome.&quot; 
 
Seven trucks of fruits and vegetables entered the eastern rebel-held districts today and were quickly purchased by residents. 
 
More than 280,000 people have been killed since Syria&#39;s conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests. 
 
International efforts to resolve the conflict have repeatedly failed though the United Nations is hoping that peace talks can resume later this month. 
 
(AFP)

Rebel groups and the government are amassing their fighters for the battle to keep hold of Aleppo city

Syrian regime forces and rebel factions sent hundreds of reinforcements to Aleppo today as opposition fighters announced an all-out offensive to take the country's second city. The battle for Syria's former economic powerhouse is intensifying after an opposition advance at the weekend broke through a three-week government siege of the city's rebel-held east, dealing a major setback to regime troops. Rebel forces yesterday announced a bid to capture all of Aleppo city, which if successful would mark the biggest opposition victory yet in Syria's five-year civil war. But forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are putting up a fierce fight and have begun pouring reinforcements into the city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said some 2,000 pro-regime fighters from Syria, Iraq, Iran and Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah had arrived in Aleppo since late yesterday. "Both sides are amassing their fighters in preparation for the great battle of Aleppo," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Observatory. The Monday edition of Al-Watan, a Syrian daily close to the government, reported that the army had received "the necessary military reinforcements to launch the battle to retake the areas from which it withdrew." Citing a source on the ground, the paper said military warplanes "are carrying out a barrage of air strikes targeting the armed groups." 'New phase to liberate Aleppo' Aleppo has been roughly divided between government forces in the west and rebel groups in the east since fighting first broke out there in mid-2012. After years of stalemate, fighting for the city entered a new phase last month when government forces took control of the last supply road into rebel-held areas, leaving some 250,000 people in eastern districts surrounded. In a desperate bid to break the siege, a coalition of rebels, Islamists and jihadists overran a series of buildings in a military academy on the southwestern edges of Aleppo on Saturday. They then pushed northeast to link up with rebel groups inside the city. Emboldened by the victory, the fighters - largely grouped under the banner of the Army of Conquest - then set their sights on recapturing all of Aleppo city. In a statement yesterday, the Army of Conquest announced "the start of a new phase to liberate all of Aleppo," pledging to "double the number of fighters for this next battle." Abdel Rahman told AFP today that hundreds of opposition fighters had arrived in Aleppo from the surrounding province and neighbouring Idlib. Most were from the Fateh al-Sham Front, the powerful jihadist group previously affiliated with Al-Qaeda that leads the Army of Conquest. The group changed its name from Al-Nusra Front last month after breaking with Al-Qaeda. "Whoever wins (in Aleppo), the war will not end. It is however an important battle, the result of which will set the course of the conflict," said Thomas Pierret, a Syria expert at the University of Edinburgh. "If the rebels win, Syria will head towards partition, with a regime arc in the Golan Heights, Damascus, Homs, and the coast," he said. But if the regime wins, Pierret expected a "collapse" of the rebel insurgency in its heartland of Idlib. Aid to regime areas Residents of both sides of the city have been living in fear of competing sieges of their neighbourhoods in recent weeks. The rebel advance at the weekend cut off a key regime access route on the city's southern edges, which had been used to bring in supplies for the estimated 1.2 million residents of western districts. Overnight, regime forces brought in dozens of trucks carrying food and fuel into the western neighbourhoods via the northern Castello Road, according to the Observatory. "This is the new route that the regime forces are securing as a temporary alternative to the route they previously depended on," Abdel Rahman said. Syrian state television Al-Ikhbariyah confirmed that "fuel, food, and vegetables entered Aleppo city." A military source in Damascus denied that the city's west had been besieged, saying "the situation is under control and the situation is not worrisome." Seven trucks of fruits and vegetables entered the eastern rebel-held districts today and were quickly purchased by residents. More than 280,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests. International efforts to resolve the conflict have repeatedly failed though the United Nations is hoping that peace talks can resume later this month. (AFP)

Hundreds join crucial battle for Syria's Aleppo

The Syrian regime has sent in hundreds of reinforcements after rebel forces announced all-out effort to take the country's second city

Govt, opposition amass fighters for 'great battle of Aleppo'

Sporadic clashes hit the southern edges of the Syrian capital, Aleppo today morning, a monitoring group said, hours after rebels said they had broken a three-week government siege of the Syrian city. 
 
An alliance of rebels, Islamists, and jihadists late yesterday said they had opened a new route into Aleppo&#39;s eastern neighbourhoods, home to some 250,000 people.&nbsp;But the road, which passes through southern edges of the city, remains too dangerous for civilians to use, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said today. 
 
&quot;There are intermittent clashes and air strikes, but to a lesser degree,&quot; said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.&nbsp;&quot;Not a single civilian has left the eastern districts because the road is too dangerous and not secured.&quot; 
 
On Saturday, anti-regime groups overran a series of buildings in a military academy on the southwestern edges of Aleppo.&nbsp;They then pushed northeast into the district of Ramussa, linking up with rebel groups that had fought south from inside the city. 
 
Rebels posted footage of their fighters embracing and celebrating the end of the government encirclement of Aleppo, in place since July 17. 
 
An AFP journalist in the eastern districts said a single truck of vegetables entered the neighbourhoods late Saturday to be sold in the markets the following day. 
 
Syrian state media, however, denied that the siege had been broken and said the fight was ongoing. 
 
&quot;The terrorist groups are suffering huge losses and were not able to break the encirclement of the eastern neighbourhoods of Aleppo,&quot; state news agency SANA said late yesterday, quoting a military source. 
 
&quot;The Syrian army in coordination with allied forces are continuing their fight south of Aleppo,&quot; it said. 
 
The agency said 10 civilians were killed on Saturday in rebel shelling on two government-held districts. 
 
The Britain-based Observatory said at least 130 civilians have been killed since the opposition alliance launched its offensive on southern Aleppo on July 31. 
 
The monitor said more than 700 fighters from both sides had been killed in the onslaught, most of them rebels because of the regime&#39;s &quot;aerial superiority.&quot; 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The rebels said they had opened a new route into Aleppo but rights observers warned it is still too dangerous for use by civilians

Sporadic clashes hit the southern edges of the Syrian capital, Aleppo today morning, a monitoring group said, hours after rebels said they had broken a three-week government siege of the Syrian city. An alliance of rebels, Islamists, and jihadists late yesterday said they had opened a new route into Aleppo's eastern neighbourhoods, home to some 250,000 people. But the road, which passes through southern edges of the city, remains too dangerous for civilians to use, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said today. "There are intermittent clashes and air strikes, but to a lesser degree," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. "Not a single civilian has left the eastern districts because the road is too dangerous and not secured." On Saturday, anti-regime groups overran a series of buildings in a military academy on the southwestern edges of Aleppo. They then pushed northeast into the district of Ramussa, linking up with rebel groups that had fought south from inside the city. Rebels posted footage of their fighters embracing and celebrating the end of the government encirclement of Aleppo, in place since July 17. An AFP journalist in the eastern districts said a single truck of vegetables entered the neighbourhoods late Saturday to be sold in the markets the following day. Syrian state media, however, denied that the siege had been broken and said the fight was ongoing. "The terrorist groups are suffering huge losses and were not able to break the encirclement of the eastern neighbourhoods of Aleppo," state news agency SANA said late yesterday, quoting a military source. "The Syrian army in coordination with allied forces are continuing their fight south of Aleppo," it said. The agency said 10 civilians were killed on Saturday in rebel shelling on two government-held districts. The Britain-based Observatory said at least 130 civilians have been killed since the opposition alliance launched its offensive on southern Aleppo on July 31. The monitor said more than 700 fighters from both sides had been killed in the onslaught, most of them rebels because of the regime's "aerial superiority." (AFP)

Clashes erupt in Syrian capital after rebels claim end of government siege

The head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) called for a suspension of the US-led air campaign against Islamic State in Syria while reports of dozens of civilian deaths from air strikes around the northern city of Manbij are investigated. 
 
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 56 civilians were killed in air strikes north of Manbij on Tuesday, a day after it said 21 civilians were killed in a northern district of the besieged Islamic State-held city. 
 
SNC president Anas al-Abdah said the strikes should be halted while the incidents were investigated, according to a statement issued late on Wednesday, and warned that the killing of civilians by the US-led air campaign would &quot;prove to be a recruitment tool for terrorist organisations&quot;. 
 
&quot;It is essential that such investigation not only result in revised rules of procedure for future operations, but also inform accountability for those responsible for such major violations,&quot; Abdah wrote in a letter to foreign ministers of countries in the anti-Islamic State alliance. 
 
US defence secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday the US-led force would look into the reports of civilian casualties around Manbij. 
 
The Observatory said the dead from Tuesday&#39;s strike included 11 children. Pictures on social media purporting to be from the scene showed dust-covered corpses of two young children next to rubble. 
 
Syria&#39;s foreign ministry said Tuesday&#39;s air strike, which hit the village of Toukhan north of Manbij, was carried out by French forces, while Monday&#39;s strike was by US jets. 
 
&quot;(Syria) condemns, with the strongest terms, the two bloody massacres perpetrated by the French and US warplanes and those affiliated to the so-called international coalition which send their missiles and bombs to the civilians instead of directing them to the terrorist gangs,&quot; it said in a letter sent to the United Nations this week, according to state news agency SANA. 
 
A spokesman for the US-led alliance said there were &quot;multiple national aircraft providing strikes in Manbij. So how the Syrian government knows who conducted what strike, I question.&quot; 
 
The Western-backed Free Syrian Army, an umbrella grouping of factions which has fought against both President Bashar al-Assad and against Islamic State militants, also condemned what it called the &quot;shocking massacres&quot; near Manbij. 
 
&quot;We will not allow any crime to be justified under the pretext of combating terrorism,&quot; it said in a statement signed by more than 30 armed factions. 
 
( Reuters)

Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 56 civilians were killed in air strikes north of Manbij

The head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) called for a suspension of the US-led air campaign against Islamic State in Syria while reports of dozens of civilian deaths from air strikes around the northern city of Manbij are investigated. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 56 civilians were killed in air strikes north of Manbij on Tuesday, a day after it said 21 civilians were killed in a northern district of the besieged Islamic State-held city. SNC president Anas al-Abdah said the strikes should be halted while the incidents were investigated, according to a statement issued late on Wednesday, and warned that the killing of civilians by the US-led air campaign would "prove to be a recruitment tool for terrorist organisations". "It is essential that such investigation not only result in revised rules of procedure for future operations, but also inform accountability for those responsible for such major violations," Abdah wrote in a letter to foreign ministers of countries in the anti-Islamic State alliance. US defence secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday the US-led force would look into the reports of civilian casualties around Manbij. The Observatory said the dead from Tuesday's strike included 11 children. Pictures on social media purporting to be from the scene showed dust-covered corpses of two young children next to rubble. Syria's foreign ministry said Tuesday's air strike, which hit the village of Toukhan north of Manbij, was carried out by French forces, while Monday's strike was by US jets. "(Syria) condemns, with the strongest terms, the two bloody massacres perpetrated by the French and US warplanes and those affiliated to the so-called international coalition which send their missiles and bombs to the civilians instead of directing them to the terrorist gangs," it said in a letter sent to the United Nations this week, according to state news agency SANA. A spokesman for the US-led alliance said there were "multiple national aircraft providing strikes in Manbij. So how the Syrian government knows who conducted what strike, I question." The Western-backed Free Syrian Army, an umbrella grouping of factions which has fought against both President Bashar al-Assad and against Islamic State militants, also condemned what it called the "shocking massacres" near Manbij. "We will not allow any crime to be justified under the pretext of combating terrorism," it said in a statement signed by more than 30 armed factions. ( Reuters)

Syrian opposition calls for suspension of US-led air strikes

Opposition-controlled parts of Syria&#39;s battered northern city Aleppo are now completely besieged, a monitor and a rebel group said today, after government forces severed the last route out of the east. 
 
Regime fighters are now on the Castello Road and have fully cut it, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 
 
&quot;The eastern neighbourhoods are now completely besieged,&quot; he said. 
 
The army had advanced on July 7 to within firing range of the key supply route but had not reached the road itself. 
 
&quot;Aleppo is now 100 per cent besieged,&quot; a rebel fighter from the Aleppo Revolutionaries group said. 
 
&quot;The army has reached the road and even arrested a group of civilians who were walking there,&quot; the fighter said. 
 
&quot;They are now setting up sandbag barriers,&quot; he said. 
 
AFP&#39;s correspondent in one eastern rebel-controlled neighbourhood said the distant sound of clashes could be heard. 
 
According to the United Nations, nearly 600,000 people are living under siege in Syria, most of them surrounded by government forces, although rebel groups also use the brutal tactic. 
 
Eastern Aleppo is not yet designated by the UN as besieged. 
 
Aleppo city is divided roughly between government control in the west and rebel control in the east. 
 
It was once Syria&#39;s commercial powerhouse but has been ravaged by the country&#39;s five-year war, which has left more than 280,000 people dead. 
 
(AFP)

A rebel fighter from Aleppo Revolutionaries group said the army has reached Castello Road and is setting up sand barriers

Opposition-controlled parts of Syria's battered northern city Aleppo are now completely besieged, a monitor and a rebel group said today, after government forces severed the last route out of the east. Regime fighters are now on the Castello Road and have fully cut it, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "The eastern neighbourhoods are now completely besieged," he said. The army had advanced on July 7 to within firing range of the key supply route but had not reached the road itself. "Aleppo is now 100 per cent besieged," a rebel fighter from the Aleppo Revolutionaries group said. "The army has reached the road and even arrested a group of civilians who were walking there," the fighter said. "They are now setting up sandbag barriers," he said. AFP's correspondent in one eastern rebel-controlled neighbourhood said the distant sound of clashes could be heard. According to the United Nations, nearly 600,000 people are living under siege in Syria, most of them surrounded by government forces, although rebel groups also use the brutal tactic. Eastern Aleppo is not yet designated by the UN as besieged. Aleppo city is divided roughly between government control in the west and rebel control in the east. It was once Syria's commercial powerhouse but has been ravaged by the country's five-year war, which has left more than 280,000 people dead. (AFP)

Rebel-held areas of Syria's Aleppo fully besieged

Two medics were among at least 20 people killed on Saturday in Syrian government shelling of a rebel-held town northeast of the capital, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.&nbsp; 
 
The bombardment struck the town of Jayrud, 60 kilometres (35 miles) from Damascus, where the army says Islamist rebels killed a pilot they captured after he was forced to eject on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP) &nbsp;

The bombardment struck the town of Jayrud, 60 kilometres from Damascus

Two medics were among at least 20 people killed on Saturday in Syrian government shelling of a rebel-held town northeast of the capital, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The bombardment struck the town of Jayrud, 60 kilometres (35 miles) from Damascus, where the army says Islamist rebels killed a pilot they captured after he was forced to eject on Friday. (AFP)

Syria regime shelling leaves 20 dead, including 2 medics

Twenty five children were reportedly killed in air strikes that hit heavily crowded areas in a town in eastern Syria, the United Nations children&#39;s agency (UNICEF) has said. 
 
Quoting reports from its local partners in Syria, UNICEF said health workers were reported to have pulled bodies of children from under rubble in the town of al-Quria in Deir al-Zor province, which is mostly under Islamic State control. 
 
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported on Saturday that air strikes carried out by Syrian or Russian warplanes killed dozens of people in al-Quria. 
 
Deir al-Zor province links Islamic State&#39;s de facto capital in the Syrian city of Raqqa with territory it controls in Iraq. 
 
&quot;Three attacks reportedly hit heavily crowded areas including a mosque during prayer time,&quot; UNICEF said in a statement. &quot;UNICEF deplores these attacks and calls on all parties to the conflict to keep children out of harm&rsquo;s way.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

'Three attacks reportedly hit heavily crowded areas including a mosque during prayer time'

Twenty five children were reportedly killed in air strikes that hit heavily crowded areas in a town in eastern Syria, the United Nations children's agency (UNICEF) has said. Quoting reports from its local partners in Syria, UNICEF said health workers were reported to have pulled bodies of children from under rubble in the town of al-Quria in Deir al-Zor province, which is mostly under Islamic State control. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported on Saturday that air strikes carried out by Syrian or Russian warplanes killed dozens of people in al-Quria. Deir al-Zor province links Islamic State's de facto capital in the Syrian city of Raqqa with territory it controls in Iraq. "Three attacks reportedly hit heavily crowded areas including a mosque during prayer time," UNICEF said in a statement. "UNICEF deplores these attacks and calls on all parties to the conflict to keep children out of harm’s way." (Reuters)

25 children killed in air strikes in eastern Syria: UNICEF