Civilians killed as air strikes pound Aleppo

Air strikes launched by the Syrian government have killed several civilians and injured dozens in the northern city of Aleppo as the ceasefire between the government and opposition groups crumbles.

At least 20 people were killed across Aleppo and several dozen injured in the attacks, according to sources on the ground.

The strikes targeted four different, predominantly civilian areas in the city, said Zouhir Al Shimale, a local journalist.
"These are all civilian areas, and people were near or at the mosques when the strikes hit," he told Al Jazeera by telephone, estimating that at least 30 civilians were injured in the Bustan al-Qasr area alone.

"The bombardment happened during the Friday prayers. I was on the way prayers when it happened in the al-Mashhad [neighbourhood]. People started going out of the mosque and running.Shimale said Aleppo's streets mostly emptied following the attacks, with people rushing home to avoid being in open spaces.

"People have gotten used to it. They know that at any moment, the regime could strike again."

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, government air strikes also targeted towns across Syria's Idlib province, killing at least three civilians. "