ALEPPO, Syria, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Rebel fighters took control of a prison Thursday in Aleppo, Syria, where human rights advocates reported government barrel bombs killed 11 civilians.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, and the Aleppo Media Center -- an opposition group based in Aleppo -- said rebel forces aided by foreign fighters began an assault on Aleppo Central Prison by setting off a car bomb outside a building in the government detention center complex. They freed hundreds of prisoners and were expected to free more during the day, CNN reported.
The operation was carried out by the Islamist Ahrar al-Sham and al-Nusra Front, which is linked to al-Qaida, CNN said.
The Syrian Observatory said at least 11 civilians were killed Thursday when government forces attacked Aleppo with barrel bombs -- barrels packed with pieces of metal that spread shrapnel when detonated.
The civil war in Syria, nearly three years old, has left more than 100,000 people dead and millions driven from their homes into refugee camps in neighboring countries.
