Syrian government aircraft struck a busy market today in a rebel-held district of Aleppo, killing at least 33 people in the latest deadly attack targeting mainly civilians in the city, opposition activists said. Several activists said a government helicopter dropped three barrel bombs that exploded in the Hillok district, which was packed with shoppers at the time. They said the attack wounded scores of people. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 33 people were killed in today's attack, including women. The local Aleppo Media Center put the toll at 44 killed.
Activists said Hillok district has rarely been hit by government airstrikes in the past six months, leading many from neighboring, less safe areas, to move there. It is the latest deadly government strike on the city, Syria's largest. Aleppo has been divided between government forces and rebels for nearly two years, with constant fighting doing little to change the balance on the ground. Yesterday, a government airstrike that hit a school in Aleppo killed 20 people, including 17 children, activists said. The attack took place as teachers and students were preparing an exhibit of children's drawings depicting Syria at war, activists said. (More Syria stories.)