45 civilians have been killed and dozens more injured in a series of bomb blasts in Syria.

The AFP news agency says regime helicopters dropped barrel bombs and hit an IS-held neighbourhood in the city of Aleppo early today.

Among the 12 dead there were eight members of a single family. The bomb reportedly fell near a car carrying the family.

Lives were also lost at market in Al-bab, around 40 kilometres northeast of Aleppo, which was packed with Saturday morning shoppers.

It is reported that the 33 civilians killed at the market were all male, due to restrictions on women in IS controlled areas.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the death toll is likely to rise, with many people critically injured as a result of the bombing.