(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian regime warplanes have conducted more than 750 air strikes on the rebel-held Aleppo, killing at least 17 people in the past two days, civil defense directorate said Sunday.
The heavy aerial bombing has been accompanied with massive exodus to Turkey as fierce fighting take place between rebels and the Islamic State.
In a written statement, the UN's refugee agency said they are "deeply concerned" about the reported massing of 165,000 people near the town of Azaz, some 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Aleppo.
"People have started to flee due to heavy fighting in northern Aleppo. Fleeing civilians are being caught in the cross-fire and are facing challenges to access medical services, food, water, and safety," the statement said.
The conflict in Syria remains the main driver of the refugee crisis, forcing more than 4.8 million people to become refugees in neighboring countries. Turkey currently shelters the majority of Syrian refugees, some 3 million.
ISIS fighters have captured territory from rebels near the Turkish border on Friday and inched closer to Azaz town.
The ultra-hardline group has been fighting against rebels in the area for several months. The rebels, who are supplied via Turkey, last month staged a major push against Islamic State, but the group counter-attacked and beat them back.
The advance also cut rebel supply lines from Azaz to the town of Marea farther southeast, isolating the latter from other rebel-held areas, the Observatory said.
In April, Islamic State militants seized another strategic town near the Turkish border from rebel factions fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army.
The IS advances on Friday encroach on a corridor of rebel-held territory that leads from the Turkish border toward Aleppo city, which is divided between insurgent and government control. (With Reuters)
The heavy aerial bombing has been accompanied with massive exodus to Turkey as fierce fighting take place between rebels and the Islamic State.
In a written statement, the UN's refugee agency said they are "deeply concerned" about the reported massing of 165,000 people near the town of Azaz, some 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Aleppo.
"People have started to flee due to heavy fighting in northern Aleppo. Fleeing civilians are being caught in the cross-fire and are facing challenges to access medical services, food, water, and safety," the statement said.
The conflict in Syria remains the main driver of the refugee crisis, forcing more than 4.8 million people to become refugees in neighboring countries. Turkey currently shelters the majority of Syrian refugees, some 3 million.
ISIS fighters have captured territory from rebels near the Turkish border on Friday and inched closer to Azaz town.
The ultra-hardline group has been fighting against rebels in the area for several months. The rebels, who are supplied via Turkey, last month staged a major push against Islamic State, but the group counter-attacked and beat them back.
The advance also cut rebel supply lines from Azaz to the town of Marea farther southeast, isolating the latter from other rebel-held areas, the Observatory said.
In April, Islamic State militants seized another strategic town near the Turkish border from rebel factions fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army.
The IS advances on Friday encroach on a corridor of rebel-held territory that leads from the Turkish border toward Aleppo city, which is divided between insurgent and government control. (With Reuters)
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