ALEPPO (SYRIA) - Syria's government pounded rebel-held Aleppo with air strikes and artillery fire on Saturday, killing 27 people and prompting Washington to condemn the "heinous actions" of Damascus and its ally Russia. Since it began on Tuesday, the assault on the rebel-held east of Aleppo has damaged hospitals, forced schools to close, and killed nearly 100 civilians, according to a monitor. An AFP correspondent described relentless bombardment with air strikes, mortar rounds and barrel bombs slamming into residential neighbourhoods where residents cowered at home. "This is a dark day for east Aleppo," said Teresa Sancristoval, emergency coordinator for the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity. The Observatory said at least 27 civilians were killed in east Aleppo on Saturday, with the toll likely to rise because of the number of seriously wounded.

Source: Bangkok Post November 19, 2016 18:48 UTC