Syrian forces bomb a nursery school in rebel-held city of Harasta (Graphic photos)

Six children were killed and dozens more injured after a nursery school in Syria was bombed, reportedly by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The children were peacefully playing during their first break of the day when government forces launched mortar rounds at the kindergarten, which is located in the rebel-held city of Harasta, a rural suburb of the country's capital, Damascus.

Photos from the scene show the environment splattered with blood. The young children rescued where covered in blood and their toys left strewn across the floor.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said 17 people, most of them children, were injured in the attack. Volunteer rescue group, the Syrian Civil Defence force also known as The White Helmets, attended the scene.

See more graphic photos below..