At least 50 dead in artillery fire, Russian strikes in Syria: new toll

Dozens of civilians have died in artillery fire and Russian bombardment of two displacement camps and surrounding territory in eastern Syria, a monitor said Sunday in a new toll.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said ongoing heavy bombardment in the Deir Ezzor province had killed 50 civilians, including 20 children, since late Friday night.

The new toll was nearly double the Britain-based monitor's count on Saturday of 26 dead.

The bombardment has targeted territory along the Euphrates River, as well as villages and displacement camps full of people fleeing fighting in the Syrian border town of Albu Kamal.

Russian-backed Syrian regime forces and allied militia seized Albu Kamal from the Islamic State group on Thursday but the jihadists retook it late Saturday.

On Sunday, Russian air strikes on two river crossings along the Euphrates killed 11 civilians, according to Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman.