Dozens Killed, Hospital Hit in Airstrike as Aleppo Attacks Rage

Syria’s military and al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front continued to trade fire in districts of the northern city of Aleppo today, and as has been the case in previous days the bulk of the casualties were civilians, with at least 20 civilians reported killed and scores of others wounded.

Syrian military airstrikes centered on the Sukkari neighborhood, in eastern Aleppo, with one of the strikes hitting a hospital and a neighboring civilian complex. 9 were killed, including one doctor, and a pair of young children. Six other civilians were reported slain in the area as well.

Al-Qaeda’s own firing targeted the western part of the city, with reports of at least 11 civilians killed in rocket and artillery fire. These attacks were initially reported by Syria’s state media, and confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Dozens of civilians have been killed on a daily basis in and around Aleppo in recent days, with the military and al-Qaeda constantly trading fire. Neither side, however, seems to be gaining any territory in the fighting, leaving open the question of how long they can keep pounding one another’s civilians like this.