Syrian, Russian Intense Airstrikes Are Killing Civilians, Activists Say

Syrians look at the damage following airstrikes on the rebel-held area of Douma, east of the capital Damascus, on Oct. 2, 2015. (Abd Doumany/AFP/Getty Images)

BEIRUT—Activists say Russian and Syrian warplanes are pounding targets in central and northern Syria amid reports of civilian casualties.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian Revolution in central Homs town of Tabliseh, an activist-operated media platform, said warplanes believed to be Russian targeted mourners in al-Ghanto village who were burying people killed a day earlier, killing four civilians. The activists said several villages in the rural areas north of Homs were pounded with airstrikes, including government helicopters dropping barrel bombs.

The state-news agency SANA reported army troops began a ground offensive in the area. Meanwhile, the Observatory and the monitoring group the Local Coordination Committees said intense clashes were reported in Wadihi, a village the government took control of in an offensive in southern Aleppo.