Syrian regime air strikes and artillery fire killed at least 16 civilians on Wednesday (July 27th) in opposition-held neighbourhoods in the east of Aleppo city, AFP reported.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven people had been killed in the al-Sakhur neighbourhood and another seven in al-Ansari district.
Two more were killed in the Sukari and Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhoods, the monitor said, adding that the toll could rise because people were still trapped under the rubble.
The renewed strikes came as Syria's army officially announced it had surrounded the opposition-held east of the city.
Opposition neighbourhoods of Aleppo have been effectively besieged since July 7th, when regime troops advanced to within firing range of the sole remaining supply route into the east.
They have continued to advance, seizing the road itself and at least one rebel-held neighbourhood in the north-west of the city.
