HRW: Syrian Ballistic Missiles Kill Civilians, Many Children

People search for survivors among the rubble of an area damaged by what activists say was a missile attack by the Syrian regime in Raqqa Province in April.

A rights watchdog says the Syrian military is firing ballistic missiles into populated areas, killing hundreds of civilians, including many children.

In a report issued on August 5, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the most recent such attack in Aleppo on July 26 killed at least 33 civilians, including 17 children.

HRW says nine apparent missile attacks killed at least 215 people between February and July. Nearly half of the victims were children.

The group says it has visited seven of the nine sites in Aleppo and Raqqa governorates.

HRW says it didn't find any apparent military target in the vicinity.

Syria reportedly possesses several types of ballistic missiles, including Russian-designed Scud missiles, which have a wide-area destructive effect.

HRW called on Damascus to stop indiscriminate attacks.