The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) stated that the Syrian government has ramped up the use of airstrikes against opposition forces, with over 200 bombing raids carried out within 36 hours.
Though there were several reported casualties, the organisation was unable to confirm an exact number. ‘Barrel bombs’ were amongst those dropped on targets in opposition held areas including Hama, Idlib and Aleppo.
The Syrian government meanwhile stated air raids had destroyed two of three fighter jets seized by Islamic State militant. The location of the third jet is still unknown.
The intensification of the bombing campaign comes as opposition groups accuse the regime of continuing to use chemical weapons.
On September 10 the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said that the Syrian government had “systematically and repeatedly” used chemical weapons this year, increasingly since August.
Opposition activist Rami al-Sayed said,
“This whole story of the regime destroying its chemical weapons arsenal is nothing but a lifeline thrown by Russia to the Assad regime… It’s evident that Assad had not destroyed everything he has.”
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