Syria 'barrel bomb strikes kill 71'

2015-05-30 16:20:52

NEWS DESK (DİHA) - At least 71 people have been killed in Syria's northern Aleppo province by barrel bombs dropped from government helicopters, activists say.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 59 people died in the strike on al-Bab - a town currently held by ISIS gang militants. It says 12 people were killed in the city of Aleppo. Syria's government has repeatedly denied using barrel bombs - large containers filled with explosives.

The bombs, dropped by helicopters, are among the most deadly and inaccurate weapons used by government forces, and are reported in many parts of the country every day.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 59 people were killed in the attack on Al-Bab's busy market on Saturday. The casualties were reported to be overwhelmingly civilians, including women and children, and the number of dead was expected to rise because many of the casualties suffered serious injuries.

The group, which gathers information through a network of activists in Syria, called it one of the worst massacres perpetrated by the government so far this year. It says another 12 people were killed in Aleppo's rebel-held Shaar area, including eight members of a single family.

(nt)