Report: 113 Syrian air strikes killed 24 civilians in one day

NICOSIA — The Syrian military, hampered by a manpower shortage, has intensified air strikes on Sunni rebel strongholds.

 

The Syrian opposition reported a sharp increase in air strikes on rebel strongholds. On Jan. 14, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights cited at least 113 air strikes throughout Syria.

“Twenty-four civilians were killed , six children, four women and 14 men, while no fewer than 50 others were wounded, many of them were seriously wounded, in addition to material damages in civilians properties,” Syrian Observatory said.

Opposition sources said the air strikes were meant to compensate for a decline in Syrian Army operations. They said the army, hampered by a manpower shortage, has been struggling to maintain a presence in remote areas of the country.

Syrian Observatory said Syrian fixed-wing aircraft conducted 67 air strikes on the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus, Dera, Dir Al Zour, Hama and Idlib. The British opposition group said air force helicopters stages 46 sorties in which barrel bombs were dropped on suspected rebel positions.

The sources said the Syrian air campaign was facilitated by Russia. They said the Russian Air Force sent scores of advisers and technicians to maintain and overhaul Syrian combat aircraft.

 

http://www.worldtribune.com/2015/01/16/report-113-syrian-air-strikes-killed-24-civilians-one-day/