Strikes on east Syrian town kill 63, including children

Strikes on east Syrian town kill 63, including children

January 24, 2016
Displaced people, who fled the violence from Daesh-controlled area of Al-Bab, warm themselves around a fire as they wait in the Syrian village of Akda to cross into Turkey, January 23, 2016. — Reuters
Displaced people, who fled the violence from Daesh-controlled area of Al-Bab, warm themselves around a fire as they wait in the Syrian village of Akda to cross into Turkey, January 23, 2016. — Reuters

BEIRUT — At least 63 people, including nine children, have died in air strikes believed to be carried out by Russian warplanes on a town in eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday.

The raids on Khasham near the city of Deir Al-Zor on Saturday were among a series of strikes that also hit two other town in the past 48 hours, killing scores of people.

Russian jets have been bombing around Deir Al-Zor as Syrian pro-government forces clash with Daesh (the so-called IS) fighters, who control most of the province. The group has besieged remaining government-held areas of the city since last March and last week launched new attacks.

Warplanes have also hit Daesh's de facto capital of Raqqa over the past two days, killing at least 44 people in the city, the Observatory said, raising its toll from Saturday after many of the wounded died of their injuries. — Reuters


January 24, 2016
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