Civilians in Raqqa pay heavy price from air strikes: UN

Civilians caught in the battle for the Syrian city of Raqqa are paying an "unacceptable price" and attacking forces may be contravening international law, the top U.N. human rights official said on Thursday.

"I am extremely concerned that in its conduct of hostilities, the attacking forces may be failing to abide by the international humanitarian law principles of precautions, distinction, and proportionality,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said in a statement.