Warplanes on Sunday targeted the largest rebel-held hospital in Syria's central province of Hama, amid escalating military showdown, a monitor group reported.

The warplanes struck the Hasan al-Araj hospital, the largest medical unit in the rebel-held areas in the northern countryside of Hama, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said four airstrikes targeted the hospital, with no information on human losses.

Meanwhile, the rebels fired tens of rockets on Hama Airbase, amid reports of casualties in the Syrian army ranks, the Observatory added.

The rebels have recently waged a major offensive in the northern countryside of Hama to divert the attention of the Syrian army from Aleppo, where the Syrian army is making advances against rebel-held areas.

Earlier on Sunday, the Syrian army urged the rebels in the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo to leave their positions, pledging to provide them with a secure way out.

Source : XINHUA