WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A rebel offensive that began Friday in the Syrian city of Aleppo has resulted in nearly 50 civilian deaths, including 17 children, the rights group Amnesty International said in a press release.
"Up to 48 people including 17 children have been killed in civilian areas of government-controlled western Aleppo since the offensive began," the release stated on Monday.
Video footage showed militants using mortars and rockets in densely populated areas in a flagrant violation of international law, Amnesty said.
On October 30, militants shelled the al-Hamdaniya and al-Assad neighborhoods of western Aleppo using homemade shells with chemical substances, according to Syria's state news agency SANA.
The Command of the Syrian Armed Forces said the shells contained chlorine gas.
