14 children among 22 dead in air raids on Syria's Aleppo: NGO

BEIRUT - At least 22 people, including 14 children, were killed in regime air raids on rebel districts of the northern city of Aleppo on Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"An (aerial) attack using explosive-laden barrels over the Sakhur, Ard al-Hamra and Haydariyeh districts (of eastern Aleppo) killed 22 people, among them 14 children and an 18-year-old boy," said the Britain-based Observatory.

The Aleppo Media Centre (AMC), an activist network on the ground, reported several helicopter attacks on rebel-held areas of the city.

Once Syria's commercial capital, Aleppo has suffered massive destruction since a rebel offensive in July last year.

The city is now divided into pro- and anti-regime areas, and according to the AMC, the regime uses its air force near daily to target rebel districts.