Syrian opposition activists have confirmed that regime forces hit Damascus’ Eastern Ghouta from the south as part of their plan to slice the area in two and isolate the northern and southern parts of the territory.
Regime forces were on Thursday battering the rebel enclave with air strikes that killed dozens, in defiance of UN calls for a halt to violence.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime warplanes pounded Douma, while missiles fell on Harasta and Hamouriyah.
The attacks killed 13 people in the towns of Saqba and Zamalka, the British-based monitor group said.
“Since the start of the military operation against eastern Ghouta 19 days ago, the number of Syrian civilians killed by the aerial, rocket and artillery shelling rose to around 900 civilians, including 188 children and 116 women,” the Observatory reported.
On Thursday, shelling mainly targeted the area of Madeira to allow regime forces, advancing from the east of Ghouta, to join other forces that infiltrated from the west of the area.
A western diplomat said regime forces and Russia prepared a plan stipulating that government's Tiger Force of Brig. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan advance from the eastern outskirts of Ghouta to join forces from the 4th Armored Division of the Syrian Republican Guard, run by Maher Assad, advancing from the outskirts of Harasta and the Military Vehicles Administration base.
However, it was surprising to see a quick advance of the Tiger forces, which are following “the scorched earth” policy.
The Russian plan is based on UN Security Council Resolution 2401, which calls for a ceasefire across Syria but does not apply to operations against ISIS and al-Nusra Front.
The diplomat said that after dividing Eastern Ghouta, Russia will turn to areas controlled by Failaq al-Rahman, al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham in the southern part of the enclave.
