PHOTO: A bloodied boy in Douma after Friday attacks by Assad regime
UPDATE 1100 GMT: The Assad regime carried out more attacks on the Damascus suburb of Douma this morning:
8 airstrikes hit #Douma city near #Damascus this morning pic.twitter.com/b3mkCO6jBM
— Abdurahman Harkoush (@Abduhark) October 31, 2015
ORIGINAL ENTRY: As Russia convened an international conference in Vienna to secure President Assad for now, the Syrian regime — and possibly Moscow — sent a message with the killing of more than 130 people in Aleppo and in the Damascus suburb of Douma.
A combination of bombs, surface-to-surface missiles, and shells struck the two areas on Friday. At least 61 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in Douma when 11 missiles and shells struck civilian areas including a market. Up to 75 died in opposition-held districts in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.
The Local Coordination Committees said that a total of 174 people, including 40 children and 18 women, were killed across Syria yesterday.
Douma is the base of the rebel faction Jaish al-Islam, but a civil defense officer was clear that the regime attacks hit those with no involvement in the war:
There are only civilians here — no army and no opposition forces. Residents do not permit any armed person in this area.
This market is at the heart of Douma and supplies everyone here. Lots of farmers come here every morning to sell their items. The market was intentionally targeted.
A local activist added:
Every 10 minutes we are under attack. Rocket attacks and air strikes. They bombed a local market…we expect a rising death toll.
Every corner of Douma is being bombed.
Video of the aftermath (Warning — Graphic Images):
There were similar scenes of devastation in Aleppo, with rescuers trying to retrieve wounded from devastated blocks of housing. It was unclear whether the airstrikes were carried out by regime or Russian warplanes: