Russian, Syrian airstrikes kill 8 in war-torn Aleppo

ALEPPO, Syria

At least eight people were killed and 38 others wounded Friday when Russian and regime warplanes struck opposition-held areas of Syria’s northwestern city of Aleppo, according to a local civil defense official.

Najib al-Ansari, a pro-opposition civil defense official based in the city, said the jets had targeted four residential areas with cluster and barrel bombs.

"One each was killed in Katirci and Sheari neighborhoods and Kafr Hamra village in the west, while 5 more were killed in Tariq al-Bab neighborhood. 38 others were injured," he said.

Thirteen people were killed and another 25 injured Thursday when Russian warplanes struck opposition-held areas of Aleppo while on Wednesday, at least 94 civilians were killed by Russian and regime jets in opposition-held parts of the Aleppo, Idlib and Damascus provinces.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests -- which erupted as part of the "Arab Spring" uprisings -- with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, more than a quarter of a million people are believed to have been killed -- and more than 10 million displaced -- across the war-torn country, according to UN figures.

The Syrian Center for Policy Research, however, a Beirut-based NGO, has put the death toll from the five-year conflict at more than 470,000.

One year ago, the Russian military began extensive air operations in Syria with the stated aim of fighting terrorist groups based in the country and supporting the embattled Assad regime.

*Reporting by Khaled Suleiman; Writing by Servet Gunerigok

ALEPPO, Syria

Najib al-Ansari, a pro-opposition civil defense official based in the city, said the jets had targeted four residential areas with cluster and barrel bombs.

"One each was killed in Katirci and Sheari neighborhoods and Kafr Hamra village in the west, while 5 more were killed in Tariq al-Bab neighborhood. 38 others were injured," he said.

Since then, more than a quarter of a million people are believed to have been killed -- and more than 10 million displaced -- across the war-torn country, according to UN figures.

The Syrian Center for Policy Research, however, a Beirut-based NGO, has put the death toll from the five-year conflict at more than 470,000.

One year ago, the Russian military began extensive air operations in Syria with the stated aim of fighting terrorist groups based in the country and supporting the embattled Assad regime.

*Reporting by Khaled Suleiman; Writing by Servet Gunerigok