Army Shells Damascus Province to Crush Rebellion
The Syrian army shelled several areas east and southwest of Damascus early Tuesday hours after radical Islamist fighters seized a village in an eastern province bordering Iraq, a watchdog said.
"The army shelled the orchards in the Eastern Ghuta region (east of the capital), as it pressed on with its military campaign in the area," said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
"The shelling also hit villages southwest of Damascus," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman. "The sound of blasts from the shelling could be heard all over flashpoints in Damascus province."
Citizen journalists distributing news via an online channel said the army shelled the village of Moadamiyet al-Sham, southwest of Damascus.
"Moadamiyet al-Sham is being shelled since the early morning," Ugarit network reported.
"The army is trying at all costs to keep the rebels out of Damascus," said Abdel Rahman. "The rebels are pushing hard to enter into the city, but they have not been able to make the advance they are hoping for."
Late Monday Islamist fighters from the Al-Nusra Front rebels seized a village and several checkpoints in Deir Ezzor province bordering Iraq, the Observatory reported.
The rebels took over the village of Tibni on the road linking the provincial capital of Deir Ezzor to the northern province of Raqa amid heavy clashes with government troops, the watchdog said.
Four rebels and 11 troops were killed in the fighting, it added.
Amid growing concern that rebels are becoming more radicalized, insurgents seized several checkpoints in Deir Ezzor province, said the watchdog.
"After battles with regime troops in the area, the rebels seized new weapons and ammunition," said the Observatory, which recently reported that insurgents have taken over large swathes of the eastern province.
More than 41,000 people have been killed in violence across Syria since the outbreak of an anti-regime revolt in March last year.
Source: Agence France Presse
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