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News > World

Syrian Rebels Accused of 'Indiscriminate' Shelling in Aleppo

  • Kurds represent about 15 percent of Syria's population and have tried to avoid confrontation with the regime or non-jihadist rebels since war broke out in 2011.

    Kurds represent about 15 percent of Syria's population and have tried to avoid confrontation with the regime or non-jihadist rebels since war broke out in 2011. | Photo: AFP

Published 6 April 2016
Opinion

Dozens of Kurdish civilians have reportedly been killed or injured after three days of attacks.

A pregnant woman and three children were among at least 18 civilians killed when Syrian rebels shelled a Kurdish neighbourhood in the northern city of Aleppo, a monitor said Wednesday.

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Attacks began Monday and continued Wednesday, with “indiscriminate” shelling killing 70 civilians over three days, according to the Kurdish ARA News.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 70 people, including 30 children, were wounded in Tuesday's attacks alone, adding that the shelling was a violation of a ceasefire agreement.

“The death toll is expected to rise because there are more than 50 injured persons, including at least 20 children and some of them are still in dangerous situations,” the observatory said.

The attack targeted the majority-Kurdish neighbourhood of Sheikh Maqsud, where some 50,000 residents are caught in the crossfire of regime-held districts and those controlled by rebels.

The Observatory said that rebels including Ahrar al-Sham, an Islamist rebel group, led the bombardment, seeking to use the territory being bomed "a launching pad for attacks" on government forces.

ARA News also reported that members of the Free Syrian Army attacked the neighborhood, which is held by the Kurdish YPG. The YPG's political arm, the PYD, accused the pro-opposition Kurdish National Council of condoning the bombardment.

On Tuesday, a video statement from the Army of Islam, an extremist rebel group, said it would “bomb all positions of the Kurdish militias in Sheikh Maqsoud" in retaliation against Kurdish forces and their allies, who are attempting to cut off a rebel supply route with Turkey and connect YPG-controlled territory in northern Syria.

Aleppo became a divided city in 2012 after a rebel onslaught was met with resistance by the army.

Kurds represent about 15 percent of Syria's population. On March 17, Kurdish parties, including the PYD, announced the unilateral creation of a "federal system" in northern Syria. The announcement was heavily criticised by Syria's opposition and Syrian government alike.

The Observatory said Wednesday that 588 civilian citizens — 214 of them children and women — were killed in March, despite a UN-brokered ceasefire.

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