Syrian Forces Deny Killing Dozens of Civilians in Government-Led Airstrikes

The Syrian Air Force attacks only the armed groups of militants and never carries out airstrikes on civilians, a military representative assures, refuting the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights' accusations.

MOSCOW, December 26 (Sputnik) — The Syrian Air Force could not have caused the deaths of dozens of civilians, a military source told Sputnik on Friday, denying earlier reports.

"Syrian aircraft aim only at bases and fortifications of armed groups. We are used to hearing such news, they are spread by channels that participate in the shedding of Syrian blood and repeat that the Syrian army targets residential buildings and kills civilians, including children," the source told Sputnik.

Earlier on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that some 40 civilians had been killed in airstrikes carried out by Syria's government-led forces on Thursday in areas occupied by Islamic State.

The London-based watchdog also said that at least 115 civilians, including 26 children and 14 women had been killed in unprecedented government airstrikes in the course of three days, while more than 400 others sustained injuries.

According to the SOHR, the Syrian Air Force has in recent days been carrying out air raids in a number of regions across the country, including Aleppo, Homs, and the capital Damascus, as well as Islamic State-controlled Raqqa.

The Syrian government has been fighting a number of militias since 2011, when anti-government protests turned into an armed uprising and later a full-fledged civil war.

The ongoing conflict, described by the UN as the worst humanitarian crisis of our era, has claimed the lives of nearly 200,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes.