Syrian opposition says Aleppo airstrike kills 10 civilians

BEIRUT (AP) — Renewed airstrikes killed at least 10 civilians today in Syria’s besieged eastern part of Aleppo as they were fleeing government advances in the opposition held-enclave, opposition groups reported.

France is calling for an urgent Security Council meeting to discuss the situation in Aleppo, where fighting continued as government forces seek to break down rebel defenses in the deeply divided city, once Syria’s commercial center.

The opposition Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said new airstrikes left at least 10 civilians killed, while a rescue group in eastern Aleppo put the figure at 25. The Syrian Civil Defense, a team of first responders, say the airstrikes hit a group of civilians fleeing to Bab al-Nairab district from government advances in the north.

In swift and dramatic advances, Syrian government and allied troops pushed their way into northern parts of opposition held eastern Aleppo in the last couple of days, touching off a wave of panic and flight from the besieged enclave. Many of the fleeing civilians headed to government and Kurdish-controlled areas while others were driven deeper into the remaining rebel-held zones.

— AP