A Turkish-backed Syrian fighter in Tadef, in the eastern countryside of Aleppo province A Turkish-backed Syrian fighter in Tadef, in the eastern countryside of Aleppo province 

Air attack leaves 27 pro-Assad troops dead

As Pope Francis appeals to all men and women to join him during the Marian month of May in praying for peace, in particular for Syria, a rocket attack in the north of the country on Monday reportedly killed 27 pro-government fighters, most of them Iranians.

By Nathan Morley

Army camps in Hama and Aleppo were allegedly targeted in what government-run television described a "new aggression" by its enemies, but did not elaborate.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain, the attacks were conducted by Israel and killed 27 pro-government troops.

Many more soldiers were reportedly injured.

The missiles hit a warehouse at an army garrison in Hama, as well as another base near Aleppo Airport, according to the Observatory.

Earlier this month, Israel was suspected of being behind an attack on a Syrian air base which killed seven Iranians.

Thousands of fighters from Iran are in Syria to support President Bashar Assad’s army.

Israel has made no comment on the allegations, but has not denied conducting the attack.

Separately, over 100 Syrian army air strikes hit the town of Rastan on Monday as Assad forces continue to drive out rebels.

Listen to Nathan Morley's report

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30 April 2018, 17:37