50 die as rebels engage Syria

At least 60 people were killed and scores injured on Wednesday in multiple airstrikes by the Syrian regime on a town in Damascus’ opposition-held Eastern Ghouta suburb, according to a local medical source. On Wednesday Amnesty worldwide published a report arguing the Syrian government was carrying out war crimes in Eastern Ghouta, saying that the bombardments were compounding the suffering created by government blockades.

“While Iranian officials have always stated they are not wedded to individuals in Syria, and that their interest lies in preventing regime implosion, they still don’t see a way of preserving the regime institutional infrastructure without Assad”, said Randa Slim, a director at the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

At least 37 civilians were killed on Wednesday in Syrian government air strikes near Damascus, while at least 13 persons died as rebels fired a barrage of rockets into the capital, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 50 rockets were fired at several central neighbourhoods, killing five people – four civilians and one soldier – and injuring 59 others. More than 7.2 million others have been displaced within Syria, according to the United Nations (UN).

Rights groups have condemned indiscriminate rebel rocket fire into the capital as amounting to war crimes.

In addition to the restrictions on the ground, Eastern Ghouta is regularly subjected to government aerial bombardment. 31 people were killed.

Meanwhile, a two day truce agreed on between Lebanese Hezbollah fighters in a Syrian border town and militant and rebels groups started earlier. Iran has been a crucial ally for President Bashar al-Assad during the four-year war. A simultaneous ceasefire was held in the government-controlled villages of Fuaa and Kafraya in the northwest province of Idlib. The report also highlights the agonizing struggle to survive of more than 163,000 people living under siege in Eastern Ghouta, as well as exposing abuses by non-state armed groups in the area. At that meeting, Mr. Nasrallah stressed his support for Iran and what he claimed was Hezbollah’s commitment to promoting security in the region.