US-led airstrikes kill 43 civilians in Syria (Lead)

Damascus June 3 (IANS) At least 43 civilians were killed in US-led airstrikes that targeted a residential building in Syria s Raqqa city officials said on Saturday.

The airstrikes on Friday targeted the al-Jamili building in Raqqa and most of those killed were women and children SANA news agency reported.

Civilian casualties have increased recently as a result of the intensification of US airstrikes on Raqqa the de facto capital of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and other IS strongholds in northern and eastern Syria.

A day earlier 20 civilians were killed when a US-led airstrike targeted residential buildings in Raqqa including a hospital and a hotel.

Last Sunday 20 civilians were killed in similar airstrikes in Raqqa.

Last Thursday 35 civilians were killed by airstrikes on the IS-held city of Mayadeen in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour.

The Syrian government has repeatedly denounced the attacks targeting civilians branding the operation of the US-led anti-terror coalition in Syria as illegitimate.

--IANS
soni/bg