Beirut: Antigovernment activists and Syrian state media are reporting that shelling and air strikes in different neighbourhoods of the divided northern city of Aleppo have killed at least eight civilians.

Syria’s state news agency SANA said on Thursday four people were killed and four others wounded when rocket shells hit the government-controlled Al Khalidia district in Aleppo.

Meanwhile, the antigovernment Aleppo Media centre said four civilians were killed when air strikes hit the rebel-held Al Katerji neighbourhood. Bears Mishal, a member of the Syrian Civil Defence, a team of volunteer first responders operating in rebel-held areas, said the air strikes hit a residence, putting the number of those killed at five members of the same family. He said the search continued for others under the rubble.

Rebels seized part of Aleppo city in 2012.