As the last rebel-held parts of Eastern Ghouta face growing pressure from a ground offensive, civilians within are also finding themselves facing continued airstrikes and rocket fire. Those strikes are once again taking a rising toll.
Overnight, a strike on an underground school in Arbin killed at least 17 civilians, wounding 50 others. 15 of the slain were reported to be children by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who blamed Russia for the airstrike.
An even bigger strike was reported on Tuesday, when rockets hit a crowded marketplace in Douma, further to the north. At least 35 people were killed by the rockets and dozens of others wounded. Douma has been attracting growing numbers of refugees from the surrounding areas.
Syrian forces have retaken the majority of the rebel-held district, the last major rebel-held area near Damascus. The Russian government has estimated the government controls about 65% of the territory, though many of the population centers are still in rebel hands.