‘Barrel bombs’ kill dozens in Syria’s Aleppo

Government air strikes kill at least 35 people and injure over 50 others in ISIL-held town of al-Bab in Aleppo.

Civilians walk on rubble as they inspect a site hit by what activists said was a barrel bomb dropped by forces loyal to Syria''s President Bashar al-Assad in the old city of Aleppo, Syria
The Syrian government forces have been repeatedly accused of using barrel bombs on civilian areas [Reuters]

At least 35 people were killed while more than 50 others were injured in Syrian government air strikes on a town held by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group in Aleppo, activists told Al Jazeera.

Government air strikes targeted the ISIL-held town of al-Bab on Monday, killing at least 35 people – including a child – and injuring over 50 others, activists have told Al Jazeera.

Activists accused the government of dropping eight barrel bombs on a fuel market and residential buildings.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a death toll of 13 and over 40 injuries, adding that 10 others have gone missing after the bombardment.

A previous attack on al-Bab took place on Saturday, when government helicopters dropped explosives-filled barrels and left at least 28 people killed, according to the observatory.

On Sunday, government forces allegedly detonated explosives below the famous Aleppo citadel after finding out that opposition fighters have built these tunnels. The observatory reported that damage has been caused to the citadel following the explosions.

Al-Bab, 30km northeast of the city of Aleppo, is held by ISIL and is a frequent target of Syrian military strikes that often kill civilians.

On May 31, government air strikes that hit a packed market in al-Bab killed at least 55 people, most of them civilians.

The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using the large barrels filled with explosives dropped from aircraft.

 
 
Source: Al Jazeera