Assad forces bombed areas hit by earthquake

Syrian government jets struck areas badly affected by Monday's earthquake shortly after the disaster took place, according to Syrian sources and British politicians.

British MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement on Tuesday that President Bashar al-Assad launched a "truly callous and heinous attack" on Marea, a town in northwestern Syria affected by the earthquake, in the hours after it took place.

A military source stationed near the location confirmed the incident to Middle East Eye, saying there were “no material or human losses.”

"Everyone was preoccupied with the earthquake disaster," he added.

A civilian source said the shelling happened less than two hours after the earthquake, which has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 6,100 people across Turkey and Syria.

"I heard the sound of several shells falling on the outskirts of the area around 2am," the source said.

Mamoun al-Khatib, an activist based in Marea, told MEE that four or five shells had struck the area.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly described the attack on Marea as "completely unacceptable."

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Syria: Government forces bombed areas hit by earthquake hours after disaster