US-led airstrikes kill 14 in Syria

Damascus Sep 5 (IANS) At least 14 civilians were killed over the past 24 hours by US-led airstrikes on Syria s northern city of Raqqa the key stronghold of the Islamic State (IS) group media reports said.

According to state news agency SANA the airstrikes targeted the Naim roundabout in Raqqa causing also huge property losses.

The attack is the latest in a string of airstrikes that have caused civilian casualties in Raqqa. Last month a total of 78 civilians were killed by US strikes on areas in Raqqa Xinhua news agency reported.

The US has been heavily backing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in their push to capture Raqqa from IS.

The heavy support enabled the SDF to capture over 60 per cent of Raqqa city following a two-month battle.

But the falling of civilians on daily basis pushed the Syrian government to condemn the US-led coalition and its "crimes" in Raqqa urging the UN to dissolve the coalition.

--IANS
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