▶ Heavy Syrian and Russian air strikes on rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo city killed at least 25 civilians on Saturday, a monitor said, overwhelming doctors and rescue workers. The new government push came as the UN said that nearly 2 million people in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and one-time commercial centre, are without running water following an escalation in fighting over the past few days. Government forces captured the rebel-held Palestinian refugee camp of Handarat as airstrikes pounded rebel-held eastern neighbourhoods of Aleppo, killing at least 25 people, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A Syrian boy receives treatment at a make-shift hospital following airstrikes on rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo. “I will say it seems highly improbable that there will be quick defeat of eastern Aleppo,” the diplomat said, referring to the rebel-held districts.

Source: thestar September 24, 2016 14:48 UTC