Seven killed in PYD, regime attacks in N. Syria

By Halit Sulayman

ALEPPO, Syria (AA) – Seven civilians were killed in attacks carried out by the PYD terrorist group and the Assad regime in Syria’s northwestern Aleppo province, local sources have told Anadolu Agency.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to fears of reprisal, the sources said the PYD -- the Syrian wing of the PKK terrorist group -- had struck positions along the strategic Castello Road with mortar fire while regime aircraft had targeted the area with missiles and barrel bombs on Wednesday.

The Castello Road, which links the city of Aleppo to the opposition-held city of Idlib roughly 60 kilometers away, currently represents opposition forces’ only route out of the area.

For the last 10 days, the PYD and regime forces have stepped up attacks along the strategic road with the aim of isolating opposition forces in Aleppo.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected fury and disproportionate force.