At least 51 civilians, including 15 children, were killed in bombardment of several rebel-held areas across Syria on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. The group said at least 13 people, including three children, were killed in Government airstrikes and shelling on the Eastern Ghouta area outside the capital Damascus.
Among the areas targeted was Douma, where the central market was hit, an AFP photographer said. Government bombardment also hit two neighbourhoods of the rebel-held east of Aleppo city, where 15 people were killed, among them six children, the Observatory said.
Opposition-held neighbourhoods of Aleppo have been effectively under siege for the past two weeks, after Government forces advanced to within firing range of the only remaining supply route into the east of the city.