Beirut, June 4 (IANS/EFE): At least 14 civilians, including seven children, were killed on Thursday when Syrian regime helicopters dropped explosive barrels on the northern Syrian province of Aleppo, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
"Explosive barrels killed eight civilians, including five children from one family, in the town of Hayan in the northern countryside," the SOHR reported.
At the same time "six civilians, including two children and a woman, were killed by aerial bombardment on Der Jamal town in the northern countryside", the NGO added.
Syrian regime aircraft also targeted other areas in northern Aleppo on Thursday morning, including Tal Ref'at and Marea, but no casualties were reported.
Syrian rebel fighters from different factions have concentrated in Marea, where they are combatting Islamic State militants' advances in the northern part of Aleppo.