The regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday called on the U.N. Security Council to class the jihadist Al-Nusra Front as an al-Qaida-linked group, state news agency SANA said.

In a letter to the United Nations, the Syrian foreign ministry said it "expects the Security Council to fulfill its role and preserve global security," the agency added.

G8 foreign ministers meeting in London said Thursday they were "appalled" by the rising death toll of more than 70,000 in the Syrian conflict and urged all countries to boost aid to a U.N. appeal for the country.

But they made no mention of supplying arms to the rebels as the opposition have demanded, saying only that there should be greater "humanitarian" assistance for those caught up in a conflict that is now in its third year.

President Michel Suleiman said on Thursday that there are no reasons that justify the latest Syrian bombing of Lebanese territories, requesting providing the Foreign Ministry with the necessary related documents.

Syrian military helicopters had fired five missiles on Wednesday evening on the Lebanese region of al-Ajram near the Bekaa's border town of Arsal, the state-run National News Agency said.

Six children were among at least 57 people killed in southern Syria as the army launched an all-out assault on two towns in Daraa province, a watchdog said on Thursday.

"At least six children, seven women, 16 rebel fighters, 16 other unidentified men and 12 army troops were killed on Wednesday, in fighting, shelling and summary executions waged after the army launched an assault on al-Sanamein and Ghabagheb," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Syrian activists on Thursday dismissed as "blatant interference" a weekend call by al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri for an Islamic state to be established in the strife-torn country.

"The Local Coordination Committees in Syria completely reject the statement by ... Zawahiri in which he called for the establishment of an Islamic state in Syria," said the LCC, a network of peaceful activists on the ground.

Iraq has grounded and inspected a third Iranian aircraft bound for Syria in as many days, but found only humanitarian goods, a senior official said on Thursday.

The string of searches, the latest of which came Wednesday night, follow warnings by Baghdad last month that it would step up such inspections.

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour shied away on Thursday from revealing the details of a letter he sent to the Syrian embassy in Beirut, saying it was part of daily messages exchanged between Lebanon and Syria.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Mansour said the letter delivered to the Syrian mission on Monday was part of the “daily routine process” on political, economic and security issues.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea expressed concern on Thursday over reports saying that Hizbullah fighters are deeply involved in battles on Syrian territories.

Geagea wondered if Hizbullah is seeking to make the Syrian crisis slip into Lebanon and inflict further division between the Lebanese.

Air strikes have hit bakeries and hospitals among other civilian targets in Syria, a watchdog reported Thursday, accusing the regime of killing thousands in such raids it said amounted to war crimes.

"Individuals who commit serious violations of the laws of war wilfully -- that is intentionally or recklessly -- are responsible for war crimes," HRW said in a report titled "Death from the Skies.”

Syrian military helicopters fired five missiles on Wednesday evening on the Lebanese region of al-Ajram near the Bekaa's border town of Arsal, the state-run National News Agency said.

LBCI television elaborated: “Syrian helicopters bombed the areas of Wadi Hmeid and al-Ajram near Arsal inside Lebanese territory."