Mortar shells kill 21 in Syria’s Aleppo

At least 21 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in mortar attacks by militants in the Syrian city of Aleppo, reports say.

On Sunday, the militants fired mortar shells at several areas, including a headquarters used by government forces in the Old City of Aleppo, the so-called Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

On the same day, Syria’s state television said “terrorist groups have blown up several buildings… including the Chamber of Industry.”

Over the past months, militants have repeatedly targeted residential areas, hospitals and healthcare centers across Syria with mortar shells. Hundreds of hospitals have gone out of service due to the strikes.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army is pressing ahead with its mop-up operations against foreign-backed militants across the country.

Also on Sunday, Syrian troops took control of al-Ramouseh district in the province of Aleppo and killed scores of militants in different parts of it.

Army units destroyed several militant hideouts across the province of Homs. Similar operations were also conducted in the provinces of Daraa, Hama, Latakia and Idlib.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. Over 150,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the turmoil.

According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.