Health officials said 17 civilians lost their lives and 101 others were injuredwhen rockets fired by militants struck several neighborhoods across the city,Syria's officialSANA newsagency reported.
Head of Health Directorate inDaraaAbdul Wadoodal-Homsi saidmost of the wounded were women and children, and that one of them wasina very critical condition.
The projectiles also caused substantial damage to several houses.
Separately, three civilians were injuredin a rocket attack by Jaysh al-Islam militants on Harasta, a suburbancity northeast ofDamascus.
Heavy smoke rises after mortar shells fired by militants land in Arbeen on the outskirts of Damascus, May 16, 2015. ( AFP)Ten other people were injured when projectiles struck a number of neighborhoods in the northwestern city of Aleppo, some 355 kilometers(220 miles) north of Damascus.Peace talks halted
The attacks came amid a freshbid forpeace which a UN envoyhalted on Wednesday.
Staffan de Mistura said the haltis "not a failure of talks," adding they will be resumed on February25 as he pledged toremain "determined and realistic" in the face of challenges.
The Syrian government delegation blamedthe opposition for the "failure" of the Geneva peace talks.
"There is a failure. It's a failure of everybody, except the government of the Syrian Arab Republic, because we responded positively to the invitation,"Syrian Ambassador to the UNBashar al-Jaafari said.
"Every time he (de Mistura)called on us we responded positive and we went to meet with him. While the others arrived six days late, and they refused to engage with him at the Palais des Nations," headded.
Jaafari said the Syrian government will need to decide whether to return to peace talks, accusing the opposition of pulling out because it was losing the fight on the ground.
On Wednesday,Syrian armed forces broke a three-year siege imposed by foreign-backed militants on the towns of Nubul and al-Zahraawith an estimated 60,000 population.
The Syrian army advanced against militants north of Aleppo, choking their supplylines fromTurkey to the city.
The US and France accused the Syrian government of undermining talks to end thewar, withSecretary of State John Kerry saying Moscow and Damascus soughta military solution to the conflict.
Kerry called for an immediate end to Russian bombardment inAleppo, which has facilitated army advances in thesecond Syrian city.
"The continued assault by Syrian regime forces -- enabled by Russian airstrikes -- against opposition-held areas... have clearly signaled the intention to seek a military solution rather than enable a political one," he said.
By Press TV
