At least five Syrians have been killed and a number of others injured in a chemical attack by foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants against a residential neighborhood in northwestern Syria

At least five Syrians have been killed and a number of others injured in a chemical attack by foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants against a residential neighborhood in northwestern Syria.

Health director for Aleppo Mohammad Hazouri said five people died and eight others experienced breathing difficulties after artillery shells containing toxic gasses slammed into the Old City of Aleppo on Tuesday, the official SANA news agency reported.

Government sources said Takfiri terrorists had also used chemical munitions against civilians in the city of Saraqib in the Idlib province but militants accused government forces of carrying out the attack.

Doctor Ibrahim al-Assad, a neurologist in Saraqib, said he treated 16 of 29 cases brought to his hospital on Monday night.

He added that most of the victims were women and children and were suffering from breathing difficulties, red eyes and wheezing.

Rescuers and doctors in the city said the symptoms were similar to those caused by chlorine gas.

The chemical raids come as the Syrian army is making progress in operations to retake Aleppo from militants who are seeing the noose tightening around them in the areas which they control.