Syria: Russian airstrikes kill 10 civilians in Aleppo

By Halit Suleyman

ALEPPO, Syria (AA) – At least 10 civilians were killed and scores injured on Sunday when Russian warplanes struck a hospital and residential areas in Syria’s northern Aleppo province, according to local sources.

Russian aircraft bombed a hospital in Atarib town and marketplaces in opposition-held areas in Aleppo, one of the sources told Anadolu Agency.

“Ten civilians were killed and 40 others injured, including women and children,” the source added on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

Aleppo city has seen an uptick in airstrikes in recent days, coinciding with fierce clashes on the ground between armed opposition groups and regime forces on Aleppo’s outskirts as the latter attempt to tighten their grip on the besieged city.

On Saturday, Syrian regime and Russian planes struck opposition-held areas in Aleppo, killing 19 people and injuring 55 others.

The pro-opposition Free Health Directorate of Aleppo announced on Sunday that six hospitals in the city had suspended operation due to attacks by regime forces.

Last week, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien warned that up to 300,000 people are at risk of besiegement in Aleppo.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests -- which erupted as part of that year’s "Arab Spring" uprisings -- with unexpected ferocity.

*Mahmoud Barakat contributed to this story from Ankara.