At least 45 civilians were reported killed today, including 10 children, as a flurry of rocket fire out of Syrian military-held territory rained down on the Eastern Ghouta region, the suburb of Damascus which remains in rebel hands.
Among the main targets of fire was the Douma district, where one of the rockets hit near a school, killing the principal. Several children were reported wounded in that strike. This area has regularly come under fire in recent weeks.
There have been attempts to secure a ceasefire in this area, but its proximity to the capital has made it such a focus in the conflict that these efforts haven’t gained much traction with combatant factions. The Islamist rebels who control Eastern Ghouta have regularly used human shields, mostly Shi’ites and other “enemies” locked in cages who are ferried around to likely targets, to inflate civilian tolls.
In addition to Douma, the other areas of the Eastern Ghouta region which were hit included Saqba, Harasta, and Arbin. Though the attacks appear to have been carried out largely by the Syrian military, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said some of the airstrikes may have been carried out by Russia.
Wow
When its Russians that kill civilians, this site is deathly and pathetically quiet and apologetic.
It's sad that Syrian civilians need to feel sorry for not being Palestinians to make their death heard.
Keep sucking up the anti-Russian Kool-Aid.
huh? some dude apparently living in his mom's basement says
"…some of the airstrikes may have been carried out by Russia"?
i'd throw that report in the bin along with incubator babies and
giving viagra to the troops.
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights — when, when, when will Antiwar.com STOP using this fictitious organization for its news source. Just because state-corporate controlled "mainstream" media is using it — that does NOT make it credible. It is a one man show, run out of his apartment in Coventry, and his information is not reliable. He was the one who reported civilian casualties of Russian bombing HOURS before first Russian bombings took place.
However, the human shield -cages do not seem to excite too much attention. Of course, our neocon mainstream media, the entire Western leadership are CHEERING FOR THEM ''Assad must go!" They all shout in unison, as they do not want an "infidel" to rule "their" Sunni world. How low has our political establishment fallen. To top it off — Obama is repeating that there will be no end in fighting, unless Assad goes! Of course, that is what all the Salafi cult — that calls itself by whatever name, wants. It is simple — get the infidel out, get Sunni fundamentalists in — problem solved. And we wonder why is the ideology of this cult spreading — we feed it, we encourage it, we arm it, we train it, we give them intelligence, so they can figure out how o attack Syrian forces.
I think it is time to admit — Syrian army is definitely the bravest army today in the world. Having to face the cult of death, and knowing what will they do to each one of them if caught alive — and still standing, is a courage without example today.
When, when, when will you STOP repeating a complaint which has already been noted?
If you want to discount SOHR's claims — as I think you should — feel free to do so.
You've had your vote, and ultimately Ditz, and Ditz alone, chooses Ditz's sources.
When even Putin's supporters are panicking to this degree, the little policeman must indeed be in deep trouble!
If the US had carried out this raid, we'd be told it was a war crime.