december 16 2013 death toll in syrian bombing raid on aleppo rises to 76: monitor. seventy-six people including 28 children were killed on sunday when syrian army helicopters dropped barrel bombs on the northern city of aleppo the syrian observatory for human rights said on monday. barrel bombs are explosive-filled cylinders or oil barrels often rolled out of the back of helicopters with little attempt at striking a particular target but capable of causing widespread casualties and significant damage. the britain-based observatory said that rebel groups in aleppo issued a statement asking civilians in government-held parts of the city to move away from state security buildings which they said would be targeted in retaliation for the bombings. slideshow (3 images) president bashar al-assads forces battling rebels in a 2-1/2 year conflict that has killed more than 100000 people frequently deploy air power and artillery against rebel-held districts across the country. they have been unable to recapture eastern and central parts of aleppo which rebels stormed in the summer of 2012 but they have driven rebel fighters back from towns to the southeast of the city in recent weeks. the conflict has grown sectarian with majority sunni rebels battling assads own alawite sect and shiite militia. the observatory - which has a network of opposition pro-government and medical sources - also said on monday that rebels in northern aleppo province were threatening to strike two shiite villages they have surrounded with missiles if barrel bombs were used again by the army. reporting by oliver holmes; editing by john stonestreet our standards:the thomson reuters trust principles.
death toll in syrian bombing raid on aleppo rises to 76: monitor.