WEB DESK
Russian air strikes have killed at least 53 civilians, including 21 children, in a village held by the Islamic State terror group in Deir Ezzor province in syriya. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes hit residential buildings in Al-Shafah village. It said the bodies were recovered after removing the debris in a day-long rescue operation.
The strikes come ahead of tomorrow’s UN peace talks between the government and the Syrian opposition in Geneva. UN’s deputy envoy to Syria said the talks would cover four main topics, a new constitution, governance, elections and combating terrorism.
Russia is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and in September 2015 began a military intervention in support of his government that has gradually helped Damascus regain territory.