Syria regime shelling of funeral kills 9: monitor

Image
AFP Beirut
Last Updated : Feb 18 2017 | 11:42 PM IST
At least nine people were killed today when government forces launched a barrage of rockets that hit a funeral on the edges of the Syrian capital, a monitor said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "seven rockets and several shells hit areas on the edges of Qabun", a northeastern district of Damascus held by rebels.
"The shelling targeted a cemetery while someone was being buried there," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.
"The toll may increase because there are about 15 people wounded, some of them in critical condition," he said.
Rebels and regime forces reached a local truce deal in Qabun in 2014, but violence steadily escalated in the neighbourhood which is now bombarded regularly.
Also today, three civilians were killed in government air strikes on Waer, the last opposition-held district of the central city of Homs.
The Observatory said two young brothers were among the dead.
The toll brought to 30, including 10 children, the total number of people killed in an "escalating air campaign and clashes in Waer", Abdel Rahman told AFP.
Homs was dubbed the "capital of the revolution" after vast demonstrations there early in Syria's anti-regime uprising.
But after months of siege and bombardment, rebels agreed to quit the city in a 2014 evacuation deal with the government.
Another local deal was struck specifically for Waer in December 2015, and hundreds of rebels have left the neighbourhood.
More than 310,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011.
But after nearly six years, the conflict has morphed into a multi-front war that has drawn in foreign powers and seen jihadist groups rise to prominence.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Feb 18 2017 | 11:42 PM IST

Next Story