Many killed and injured in air strikes on Syria's Douma

07/11/2015| IslamWeb

At least 10 people, including two children, have been killed in suspected Russian air strikes on a market in a Damascus suburb.

Baraa, a Syrian activist in Douma, told Al Jazeera on Friday that Russian air strikes had hit the Kouatly market in Douma, just outside of the capital.

"For the past half-an-hour, we have been hearing warplanes roaming above us. The air strikes targeted a busy market around 15 minutes ago," he said.

"Most of those killed and injured are women and men.

"We know those warplanes are Russian because of the type of missiles that were used.

"The opposition forces also have special devices that can intercept signals from approaching warplanes; they are Russian," Baraa said.

An officer from the Douma branch of the Syria Civil Defense department, who wished to remain anonymous, told Al Jazeera that at least three air strikes had targeted residential areas in the suburb within the past hour.

"The air strikes are targeting the center of Douma, including a market and residential street," he said.

"Not just air strikes - rockets are being launched into the city too. More than 10 people have been killed, including two children, and dozens of others have been injured.

"The Syria Civil Defense members are at the scene now trying to rescue the civilians. The death toll is expected to rise," he told Al Jazeera over the phone.

Douma, which lies east of Damascus, has been under intense government attack for weeks.
Last week, air strikes in Douma killed 61 people and left over 100 others injured.

PHOTO CAPTION

A Syrian man walks past fire wood in opposition-held area of Douma, outskirts of Damascus, Syria, 25 October 2015.

Al-Jazeera