Syrian National Coalition denounces government airstrikes in Raqqa

DAMASCUS, Syria, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- The Syrian National Coalition condemned the Syrian government for launching airstrikes Tuesday in the Islamic State-stronghold of Raqqa, asserting that the majority of those killed were civilians.

According to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the airstrike targeted an industrial area of the city, killing 95 people, 52 of whom were civilians. It is unclear whether any IS militants, the intended target of the Syrian government strike, were among the dead.

The opposition SNC criticized the Syrian government for conducting airstrikes inside the U.S.-led coalition's area of operations and appealed for efforts to stop the airstrikes.

"To allow Syrian regime aircrafts to target civilians inside the anti-ISIL area of operations is to allow the deliberate killing of civilians within airspace in which US and its partners' aircrafts are operating. Syrian regime aircrafts must not be allowed to conduct airstrikes in Raqqa or anywhere else in Syria."

The opposition urged international forces to "respond decisively" to stop Syrian government aircraft from operating inside the coalition's AOR, "including by shooting down Syrian regime aircrafts if they refuse to heed warnings to exit the area." The SNC also voiced support for the creation of safe zones that would protect civilians from both regime forces and IS militants.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, the opposition asserted, has focused attacks on opposition-held areas and is responsible for perpetuating the civil war that has given IS a safe haven in which to operate. "The Syrian regime is responsible for the rise of ISIL, and it can have no role in its destruction," the SNC concluded.