Dozens killed, hurt in strikes on IS’s Syria stronghold

Observatory for Human Rights says at least five children among 39 people killed in Assad regime raids across Raqqa

By Agencies 19 March 2016, 3:27 pm

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Undated file photo of Islamic State fighters holding up their weapons and waving flags in their convey of vehicles on a road leading to Iraq from Raqqa, Syria. (Jihadist website via AP)

Opposition monitoring groups say airstrikes have killed and wounded dozens of people in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, the Islamic State group’s de facto capital.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 39 people were killed and some 60 wounded when the air raids hit several areas in the city, which has been held by the extremists since 2013.

At least five children and seven women were among the dead, according to the organization.

The raids came a day after 16 civilians were killed in strikes on the same city.

The Local Coordination Committees said the air raids were carried out by Syrian government warplanes, adding that dozens were killed or wounded.

Both groups say Saturday’s air raids struck near the national hospital, a former army base and other neighborhoods.

They say most of the casualties were civilians.

Meanwhile, a statement from the US-led coalition against the Islamic State said one of its service members was killed in northern Iraq on Saturday “as a result of enemy action.”

“The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve can confirm the death of a coalition service member in northern Iraq today as a result of enemy action,” it said.