UN delegate to Syria says opposition offensive on civilian-crowded western Aleppo is a war crime

The United Nations delegate for Syria, Staffan de Mistura has confirmed that he was “appalled and shocked” by indiscriminate rocket attacks targeting civilians in Aleppo after three days of a fresh rebel offensive in which dozens have died so far.

The Guardian reported Staffan de Mistura as saying, “Those who argue that this is meant to relieve the siege of eastern Aleppo should be reminded that nothing justifies the use of disproportionate and indiscriminate weapons, including heavy ones, on civilian areas and it could amount to war crimes.”

Syrian opposition fighters continued their shelling of government-controlled areas of the city, killing at least seven people, including three children, state TV reported.

“The rebels used car bombs and tanks to push into new territory in western areas. The Syrian government claimed the opposition fighters used toxic gas.” Reported The Guardian.

The attacks raised the death toll in the three-day old offensive to at least 41 civilians, including 16 children, The Guardian cited the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The observatory said hundreds of mortars were lobbed, it added.

The syrian rebels said the offensive aims to break the government siege on Aleppo’s rebel-held eastern districts, obviously aiming to push out government troops from frontline areas.