Unicef confirm 25 children among Deir Ez-Zor dead
Unicef confirm 25 children among Deir Ez-Zor dead
'Civilian massacre' in Syrian province with a heavy Islamic State presence took place over the weekend.
1 min read
Many children have been killed in regime airstrikes around Syria [AFP]
Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes killed 25 children on Saturday in a densely populated town in eastern Syria, the United Nations' childrens' agency (UNICEF) has said.
Citing news from its local partners in Syria, UNICEF have said that the bodies of children were pulled from the rubble in the Islamic State group-dominated town of al-Quria.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the airstrikes on Saturday with an initial death toll of 47. This was later updated to 82 on Sunday, including 58 civilians.
"Three attacks reportedly hit heavily crowded areas including a mosque during prayer time," UNICEF said in a statement. "UNICEF deplores these attacks and calls on all parties to the conflict to keep children out of harm's way."
Deir Ez-Zor province links the IS group stronghold of Raqqa to their territory in neighbouring Iraq.
Syrian government forces backed by Russia are currently attempting to drive militant groups out of their Syrian strongholds, however dozens of civilians have been killed in this effort in recent days.
In recent days, experts have also suggested that Russia may be using thermobaric bombs, which are the most powerful explosives apart from nuclear weapons and are potentially detrimental for civilians if detonated near urban areas.
More In News
