Syria in Past 24 Hours:

Dozens of Civilians Killed in US Airstrikes in Raqqa

Rasa - The US-led coalition fighter jets pounded a school in al-Mansoureh city West of Raqqa city that hosted 50 displaced families, killing tens of civilians.

News ID: 428363

Date: 23 March 2017 - 23:50

RNA - The US-led coalition fighter jets pounded a school in al-Mansoureh city West of Raqqa city that hosted 50 displaced families, killing tens of civilians.

Raqqa

SANA news agency quoted the local sources as saying that the US airplanes attacked al-Badiyeh al-Dakheliyeh school, 30km away from Raqqa city, which hosts 50 displaced families from Aleppo, Raqqa and Tadmur.

The airstrikes destroyed the school completely but the number of casualties has not been announced yet.

Meantime, al-Baladi news website affiliated to the dissidents reported that the attacks killed more than 200 civilians and wounded tens of people, many of them in critical conditions.

Also, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that at least 11 civilians have been killed in the airstrikes.

Local sources said that there are no more treatment facilities left in the ISIL-held areas and all bridges and routes have been destroyed, adding that there is no hospital in the Southern parts of Raqqa either.

Homs

The Syrian army intensified its offensives against the ISIL and al-Nusra (Fatah al-Sham) Front terrorists in Homs, killing and wounding tens of militants.

The army units launched special operations in the Eastern parts of Homs province, killing a number of ISIL terrorists in the areas of al-Bareda , Talet Ayed al-Hassoun.

They also destroyed five military vehicles in Rihoum village.

The army troops also smashed the military vehicles of the al-Nusra terrorists and killed a number of Takfiri militants in an artillery attack on their positions in Um Sharshouh village and North of Tal Abu al-Sanabel (hill) North of Homs city.

The terrorists' gathering centers and fortifications were also targeted by the Syrian soldiers in al-Houleh area.

Hama

A field source dismissed media reports claiming that the al-Nusra Front terrorists have occupied the two strategic towns of Maardas and Souran in Northern Hama, adding that the army is still in control of the region.

According to reports, heavy clashes erupted between the Syrian army forces and al-Nusra terrorists in Maardas and Souran on Tuesday night.

The al-Nusra militants launched massive attacks by detonating bomb-laden cars against the army positions and then clashed with the government troops, but failed to make a breakthrough and sustained another defeat in the region.

A field source also said that the al-Nusra terrorists have failed to gain control over the two towns after hours of battle against the Syrian army.

Damascus

The ISIL militants were driven out of important areas in Eastern al-Qalamoun region of Damascus province after they came under attack by rival terrorist groups.

A coalition of militant groups made massive gains against the ISIL in the Eastern al-Qalamoun region.

The coordinated operation room, comprised of militant factions of Jeish al-Islam, Ahmad al-Abdo Brigade and Faylaq al-Rahman continues its advance in al-Qalamoun area after capturing several sites, including al-Afaei and al-Batra mountain chains.

According to reports, militants have managed to take control of over 25 km of ISIL-held areas North-East of Damascus province.

Deir Ezzur

The Syrian army repulsed an attack launched by the ISIL Takfiri terrorist group near Deir Ezzur military airbase.

The army soldiers killed all members of a terrorist group affiliated to the ISIL after they attempted to open their way into a military post on the Eastern side of Deir Ezzur airbase.

Field sources said that 18 militants were killed and 3 military vehicles were destroyed in the clashes.

Aleppo

The Syrian army, supported by the air force, continued military operations in Eastern Aleppo and drove out the ISIL from two more towns.

The army troops regained control of the two towns of Abu Saleh and Kharayej Daham in the Eastern parts of al-Sharimeh village and al-Qusayer town near Deir Hafer after heavy clashes with the ISIL terrorists.

Meantime, the Syrian fighter jets pounded ISIL's bases, military vehicles and moves in Um Adasa Khalileh, Maskaneh, Atshaneh Maskaneh and Laleh Mohammad in the Eastern parts of Aleppo province, inflicting tens of casualties on the terrorists.

Also on Wednesday, the Syrian army troops continued to advance towards Deir Hafer, and pushed ISIL back from strategic territories East of Aleppo province.

The army troops continued their advance towards Deir Hafer in Northeastern Aleppo and captured Jafar Mansour village in the Eastern parts of Sharimeh and al-Qusayer villages in Southern Deir Hafer.

A military source said that the Syrian army and its allies now intend to advance towards Raqqa city in the South after capturing Deir Hafer.

He underlined liberation of over 15 towns and villages in the region in recent days, and said the Syrian soldiers have established security at Kuweires airbase towards Sabkhat al-Jaboul town.

He added that 90% of Sabkhat al-Jaboul town has also come under the control of the Syrian army.

847/940