U.N. Security Council Condemns Aleppo 'Terrorist' Attacks

The U.N. Security Council condemned Friday this week's "terrorist" attacks in the Syrian city of Aleppo that killed dozens of people and were claimed by a group affiliated with al-Qaida.

A statement agreed by the 15-nation council condemned the attacks "in the strongest terms" and expressed condolences to families of the victims "of these heinous acts."

Car bombs exploded on Wednesday near a military officer's club and outside a gate to Aleppo's Old City, killing dozens of people and wounding more than 100 in Syria's second largest city.

The city has been a focal point of bitter fighting between Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar Assad and rebels trying to oust his regime.

The Jebhat al-Nusra group, an al-Qaida-linked jihadist group, claimed responsibility for the attacks in postings on jihadist Internet forums. The Security Council singled out the group in its statement.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed," the statement said.

It said they "reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations."