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At least eight children have been killed after forces loyal to the Syrian regime reportedly bombed a children's nursery.

Reports suggest a mortar shell smashed into the nursery in the city of Harasta, near Damascus.

Witnesses say eight children have been killed with about 25 others injured.

Harrowing pictures from the scene show children covered in blood crying out in pain.

Others show children lying wounded in hospital beds.

It is believed forces loyal to the Syrian president were shelling neighbourhoods in Harasta.

However, during the attack the nursery appeared to have been hit. The incident happened at about 10am local time.

It emerged this week that Syrian rebel fighters are using children's balloons filled with hydrogen packed with small explosives to bring down Russian jets over Aleppo .

Children have also been filmed preparing balloons filled with helium and metallic parts attached to confused the weapon's systems of the Russians.

More than 8000 balloons are said to have been deployed in the hydrogen method to bring down the planes behind air strikes which have killed thousands of residents in the divided city.

(Image: Reuters)

However, only one balloon was claimed to have had some degree of success.

It was said to have got caught in the engine of a Russian fighter jet and forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing.

The move comes after the rebels have been urging the US and other countries in the Middle East to provide fighters with weapons to counter the air strikes.

These include anti-aircraft missiles which could be fired from a person's shoulder.

Instead, rebels are now trying their luck with the balloons - hundreds are launched at a time to increase the possibility of hitting a fast-moving aircraft.

Nour al-Din al-Zinki rebel group spokesman Bassam Hiji told the newspaper rebels had made the ballons themselves and connected them to small detonators.

“We know they are basic but they are one of the improvised weapons the fighters are in order to defend against the Russian airplanes and the regime airplanes that are bombarding the civilians,” he said.

“We know, the Russians know, the Iranians know, the regime knows and the international community knows that the only way we can fight their planes is if we have sophisticated anti-aircraft weapon."