Syrian forces kill 27 civilians, including five children, in air strikes on Douma
War monitor reports first attacks in a week on Douma, where Jaish al-Islam soldiers continue to hold ground despite ‘evacuation deal’
Relatives of Syrians they believe were kidnapped by Jaish al-Islam fighters wait on the Syrian government-held side of the Wafideen checkpoint on the outskirts of Damascus on 5 April 2018 (AFP)
At least 27 civilians were reportedly killed in Syrian government air strikes on the rebel-held town of Douma in Eastern Ghouta on Friday, a war monitor reported, in the first air strikes in more than a week in the enclave.
“At least 27 civilians died, including five children,” said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman.
State TV said rebels from the Jaish al-Islam group had shelled a crossing point outside Douma and a residential area, triggering a response by the air force. There was no immediate comment from the group.
They were the first bombing raids on Douma since negotiations began around 10 days ago over a withdrawal of rebels and civilians from the town, the largest in Eastern Ghouta.
Backed by Russia, Syrian troops have recaptured 95 percent of Ghouta since 18 February through a combination of a deadly air and ground assault and evacuation deals.
The Syrian government has for the past week been busing Jaish al-Islam fighters out of Douma to rebel-held areas of northern Syria under an “evacuation deal” struck in March.
The largest convoy of evacuees from Eastern Ghouta arrived in Hama last week (AFP) However, many Jaish al-Islam soldiers have refused the terms and promised to continue resistance in the town.
Syria and Russia had threatened a resumption of their brutal assault if Jaish al-Islam did not agree to the deal.
Syria’s state news agency SANA said Syrian air strikes hit the town on Friday in response to rebel mortar fire from Douma that wounded seven people near the capital.
The government assault since 18 February has killed more than 1,600 civilians, the Observatory says, and devastated entire neighbourhoods.
The retaking of Douma would mark the complete capture of Eastern Ghouta, a rebel bastion on the outskirts of Damascus, and be a major milestone in President Bashar al-Assad’s efforts to regain control of territory seized by rebel factions during Syria’s seven-year civil war.
Backed by Russia, Assad’s forces have scored a series of victories over rebel forces in recent years, often through campaigns of siege, aerial bombardment and ground offensives that have drawn widespread international condemnation.
Syria’s conflict has killed more than 350,000 people since 2011 and spiralled into a complex war involving world powers.
Source: Syrian forces kill 27 civilians, including five children, in air strikes on Douma | Middle East Eye