At least 30 dead in ‘air strike’ on Syria fuel station

BEIRUT, Lebanon – At least 30 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded Thursday, September 20 in an explosion at a petrol station in northeastern Syria, a human rights group said, with activists saying it was an air strike.

“At least 30 people were killed and 83 were injured, although unconfirmed sources say the number of dead was actually more than 50,” the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP.

“Lawyers and activists in the area say the blast was caused by aerial bombardment,” the Britain-based watchdog added.

Activists said that the petrol station in the village of Ain Issa, in Raqa province, was hit by a fighter jet.

“The petrol station is the only one that is still open to customers in the area, and it was packed,” a media activist in the province told AFP via Skype. “It was hit by a fighter jet.”

The activist, who identified himself as Abu Muawiya, accused the army of aiming to kill the highest number of civilians possible.

“The only reason why it would strike the petrol station with a jet is to kill the highest number of people possible,” said Abu Muawiya.

It was impossible to verify the claim. – Agence France-Presse