The soldiers of the government army's special operations company opened fire.
PKM machine guns, AK-47 rifles, RPG rockets...
The firepower instantly covered the group.
The dozen people at the front fell instantly.
There were civilians and armed militants.
Blood splattered on the ruins, and screams pierced the morning air.
"Ceasefire! Ceasefire!"
Mahmoud shouted over the radio channel, "There are civilians!"
But it was too late.
The gunfire was too dense, his voice drowned out.
Moreover, once firing starts, it's hard to stop.
Government army soldiers saw people fall, others still moving, and continued shooting.
Civilians began to scatter and flee, but bullets came from all directions.
A woman holding a child was struck by machine gun fire, both falling together. An elderly man raised his hands to surrender, but was hit in the chest by a bullet.
Children cried out searching for their parents, but the parents might already be dead.
