Syrian government aircraft bombed Kurdish positions in the divided northeastern city of Hasakeh on Thursday. They were the first government strikes against a Kurdish-held area of Syria.

According to AFP reports, the strikes hit three Kurdish-manned checkpoints and three Kurdish bases. The UN estimates the war in Syria has costed more than two-hundred thousand lives.

A shocked Syrian boy in Allepo, pictured sitting in an ambulance covered in blood and dust after an air strike, has become a symbol of civilian suffering in the country. His image has drawn worldwide attention and social media outrage. The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura said he was informed that Russia was ready to support his proposal of a 48-hour ceasefire, in order to provide humanitarian assistance to Aleppo.