Major fighting continues today in the suburbs of Damascus. The most recent reports suggest that the Syrian government’s forces have gained the upper hand over the defector forces fighting for the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

The suburban death toll is speculative but believed to be in excess of 100 in the past three days. How many of the deaths are civilians or combatants remains unknown. Opposition groups are claiming significant civilian casualties, though a number of combatants from both sides are believed to have been killed in the fighting.

The Obama Administration is condemning Syria over the recent upswing in casualties, calling it a  “violent and brutal” crackdown on dissent, even though the bloodshed now appears to be overwhelmingly associated with street battles between armed rebels and troops, as opposed to violence against civilian protesters.

In addition to Syria, fighting was also reported in Homs, again between FSA forces and government soldiers. The Russian government is attempting to start negotiations aimed at ending the violence in the nation.

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