Mortar attack kills nine in Syria

At least nine people were killed and 19 injured Friday when mortar shells landed at two districts of Syria's Aleppo province, state media reported.

The latest mortar attack, in a series of various attacks launched by rebels against government-controlled areas, targetted districts of Al-Gamilieh and Masharqeh, Xinhua reported.

On the other side, the opposition activists said more than 200 people had been killed over the last five days following the government troops' aerial bombardment against rebel-held areas in Aleppo.

Aleppo, Syria's largest city and once-called economic hub, has been witnessing intense battles between the government troops and the various rebel factions, which are also engaged in battles against ultra-radical rebel groups.

A day earlier, the Syrian troops repelled a large-scale offensive against the central prison of Aleppo.