Foreign-backed militants fired the shell on Saturday that hit near a residential area, killing six children, official SANA news agency reported.

The incident came as militants launched an attack against army soldiers near Aleppo’s international airport.

According to SANA, militants also fired mortar shells on the capital, Damascus, injuring two police officers in Kfar Souseh area.

This came after Syrian government forces retook three towns, al-Sabeineh al-Kubra, al-Sabeineh al-Sughra and Ghazal, near Damascus on Thursday.

The army soldiers drove out militants from the towns after nine consecutive days of operation, during which a large number of militants were killed.

Military sources say the three towns were among the most important positions for militants on Damascus’ outskirts, and militants in the south of the capital have practically all their supply routes cut off now.

The war in Syria started in March 2011, when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of Western and regional states.

Since the start of the war al-Qaeda affiliated groups have been emerging under different names in Syria, fighting at the side of the US-backed opposition which is leading one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history.

According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the turmoil that has gripped Syria for over two years.

The UN recently warned against the humanitarian situation in Syria, saying that over nine million people are in need of urgent aid due to the crisis in the Middle Eastern country.

SHI/SHI