Russian Warplanes Resume Airstrike in Aleppo, 50 Killed

October 12, 2016 10:51

At least 50 people, including children were killed in Russian warplanes which have been resumed leading to heavy bombing in eastern Aleppo.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said "airstrikes mostly hit the Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood."

"This is renewed bombardment and it is heavy," Zakaria Malhifji of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim rebel group said.

The Observatory said "the death toll from bombing in Bustan al-Qasr, Fardous and other neighbourhoods rose to at least 25, with scores of wounded."

"At least 50 civilians were killed by strikes on the rebel-held part of the city and nearby villages controlled by insurgents," residents and rescue workers said.

Russian Warplanes Airstrike in Aleppo
In Bustan al-Qasr, residents said, "the strikes hit a medical centre and a children's playground. Video posted on social media showed the distraught parents of children killed sitting on the streets next to their bodies."

The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said "there were just 11 working ambulances left inside eastern Aleppo, serving a population of around 250,000 people in the besieged city. Moscow and Damascus reduced air raids in the northern city last week."

The Syrian army said "it was partly to allow civilians to leave opposition-held eastern neighbourhoods."

The Syrian Government said "rebels holed up in Aleppo could leave with their families if they lay down their arms."

Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile cancelled a trip to Paris in a row over the violence in Syria, where Moscow is helping President Bashar al-Assad's forces in an operation to recapture all of Aleppo.

Russian Warplanes Airstrike in Aleppo
The Syrian army said "last Wednesday it would reduce its bombardment, after days of attacks that killed hundreds and destroyed the largest remaining hospital in the east.

"This is the heaviest Russian bombardment since the Syrian regime announced it would reduce the bombardment" last week, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

"The 25 dead, among them four children, were killed in raids in east Aleppo including in the districts of Bustan al-Qasr and Fardos," the Observatory said.

A Deraa resident said "a separate mortar attack hit a government complex in the heart of the city with reports of casualties, adding that mosques were appealing for blood donations."