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DEATH FROM ABOVE

Pro-Assad choppers drop cruel barrel bombs on Syrian WAKE held for children killed in Aleppo

At least 15 civilians killed in strike on rebel-held part of embattled city

PRO-Assad pilots have dropped cruel barrel bombs near where the families of eleven children killed in an earlier attack were grieving.

At least 15 civilians were killed in the strike on a part of rebel-held Aleppo in northern Syria.

Syrian civilians and a rescue worker evacuate children in Maadi district of eastern Aleppo after barrel bomb attack on wake
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Syrian civilians and a rescue worker evacuate children in Maadi district of eastern Aleppo after barrel bomb attack on wakeCredit: Getty Images
Syrian men run near a corpse after two barrel bombs reportedly struck at wake for eleven children killed on Thursday
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Syrian men run near a corpse after two barrel bombs reportedly struck at wake for eleven children killed on ThursdayCredit: Getty Images
Distressed girls are evacuated from site after pro-Assad choppers attacked with indiscriminate barrel bombs
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Distressed girls are evacuated from site after pro-Assad choppers attacked with indiscriminate barrel bombsCredit: Reuters

Anti-government activists said that bombers appeared to be purposely targeting the wake.

Relatives were gathered in a tent in the Bab al-Nairab area of the city to mourn the over a group of kids who died in another barrel bombing earlier this week.

A further barrel bomb was dropped as ambulances rushed to help the wounded, witnesses said.

A corpse lies behind a damaged ambulance after a second bomb struck when medics arrived
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A corpse lies behind a damaged ambulance after a second bomb struck when medics arrivedCredit: Getty Images

Rescuers said on Saturday they feared the death toll from the helicopter strike would rise as more bodies were recovered from the rubble.

Crude barrel bombs are an illegal weapon of war because of their indiscriminate and untargeted nature.

The Syrian government blamed its Russian ally for the attack, saying it was the only power operating helicopters over the city.

Russia denies using barrel bombs.



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Mohammed Khandakani, a hospital volunteer, said one of the injured told him a barrel bomb was dropped as people gathered to give condolences for eleven children killed in a bombing on Thursday.

He said that minutes later another bomb was dropped just as medics arrived.

An ambulance driver was injured in the second blast, stalling rescue efforts.

An injured man is covered in concrete dust after huge explosion left at least 15 people dead
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An injured man is covered in concrete dust after huge explosion left at least 15 people deadCredit: Reuters
Two rescuers carry an injured man to safety after helicopter bombing in rebel-held Aleppo
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Two rescuers carry an injured man to safety after helicopter bombing in rebel-held AleppoCredit: Getty Images
Rescuer carries tots away from collapsed building after devastating attack
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Rescuer carries tots away from collapsed building after devastating attackCredit: Getty Images
Destroyed building near where a wake was being held for children killed on Thursday
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Destroyed building near where a wake was being held for children killed on ThursdayCredit: Reuters

London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed Thursday's attack, from which dramatic footage of the frantic rescue effort has emerged.

It reported: "Fifteen civilians, among them 11 children, were killed in a barrel bomb attack on the Bab al-Nayrab neighbourhood."

Formerly Syria's booming second city after the capital Damascus, Aleppo has been at the centre of the country's civil war since it began in 2011.

THE SUN'S AID FOR ALEPPO CAMPAIGN

HISTORIC Aleppo has been reduced to rubble by the brutal civil war in Syria.

The besieged city is home to countless orphaned children.
Supplies could run out in as little as three weeks, leaving 300,000 innocent civilians to starve to death.
The Sun today asks its generous readers to donate to our Aid For Aleppo campaign, in association with charity Save The Children.
The money will go towards providing vulnerable Syrian children with food, supporting hospitals and setting up specialist emotional support.
To donate please visit
Or text SYRIA to 70008 to donate £5 to The Sun’s Aid for Aleppo Appeal.

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