10 dead in Syrian airstrikes targeting hospital

According to a statement by the UK-based Syrian observatory for human rights on Wednesday, at least 10 people were killed in strikes targeting the Bayan hospital in a rebel-held part of Aleppo city.

In al-Marjeh neighbourhood, at least four people, including two children, were killed when government helicopters dropped barrel bombs.

One more person was killed in an air strike in the nearby neighbourhood of al-Moadi, the Observatory added.

Elsewhere in Aleppo province, the observatory reported that Daesh fighters have retreated from several villages as heavy clashes continue between the group and the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The SDF, a United States-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters, is headed by the Kurdish People's Protection Units.

Last week, the SDF launched an offensive to capture the town of Manbij, a suspected supply route for Daesh to smuggle weapons in from Turkey.

Separately, the observatory said last week that the US had air-dropped weapons to rebel fighters in Aleppo province, who have been battling Daesh.

Syria's conflict started with mostly unarmed demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011.

It has since escalated into a full-on civil war that has killed at least 270,000 people, according to the observatory.