A calamitous number of civilian casualties were reported overnight in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta, where a reported napalm strike hit a pair of underground shelters, burning a large number of civilians within. The use of napalm has not been confirmed, and may be speculation based on the large number of burn victims.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who attributed the strikes to Russian warplanes, said 37 civilians were killed. The White Helmets reported the same death toll, adding that about 80 other civilians were injured in the strike.
Some suggested the toll was even higher,with al-Jazeera quoting a local “activist” as saying 45 civilians were killed in the attack. The strike was reported to have entered into one shelter, exploded, and the fire spread to a connected shelter.
Though many of the people managed to get out of the shelters alive, the fires were said to have spread extremely quickly, and a lot of the wounded are in grave conditions, receiving treatment for first and second-degree burns.
In the Eastern Ghouta town of Harasta, civilians continue to be evacuated as part of a ceasefire deal. With the Syrian Army nearing total control of the entire Ghouta suburb, it is surprising to see a strike using napalm, which clearly risks high civilian casualties.
Sure, a shocking discovery that Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and White Helmets — both British intelligence operations would make outrageous claims of Russian and Syrian attrocities. The propaganda and material support from the West is fueling the futile attempts by terrorists to hang on, and not evacuate. Sure, at this point they will be using such exotic weapons. Sure, like all Russian athletes are using drugs, and Rusdia is poisoning prople around the world using poison in the class if poisons it developed in Soviet Union. And surely, people csnnot possibly be liberated from terrorists, they are VERY SAD to see terrorists defeated. And surely, it is US and its Kurdish allies that are demining Raqqa, fixing infrastructure and providing necessities for people to return, or is it Aleppo? Allepo, where nearly million people came back? And where Christians had their Christmas parade with thousands of cheering Moslems joined in. And with a band that has not practiced for years played Christmas songs, out of tune, but with great enthusiasm — where was fhe media of this nation, to experience the happiness?
As people are pouring out — now over 100,000 thousand, they have much to say about the ordeal they survived under the plethora of militants, their regime of forcing their boys to join their ranks, witnessing torture, beheadings.
So now, in the middle of liberation, here comes more theater from a land of theater. More ridiculous and ever so more shrill.
And no doubt, ss people watch UK government’s slick moves to do Brexit without actually Brexiting, and furious citizens confront their representatives in public hearings about slarming growth of homelessnes — the answer is drama, external threat, stoking any conflict in the world to prolong it, with no mercy for the innocents. Had it not been for the US, Israel and. UK — and their royal partners jn the Midfle East, the peace would have come by now.
The priblem for the West is obvious. The lies and drama are not impressing anyone. Now that Russia has revealed the scientific and technological breakthroughs— applied to military capability, the reactions — all fury signifying nothing.
Excellent observations, Bianca.
Gasoline works as well as gas for creating a internationally acclaimed atrocity. Why wouldn’t al Nusra incinerate a basement full of traitors and blame it on an ‘overnight air strike’? The Russians and government don’t need to be striking at night unless it’s to disrupt resupply – which could be hit anywhere en route.
Notice who does the reporting,- the SOHR and the White Helmets- hardly reliable and objective observers.
Some of the surrendering DAESH were said to be giving intel on command and communication posts and other strategic locations. Its possible not all of the information given was honest, or, more likely locations were dual use civilian and military.
You’d think so close to total victory the Syrians could give the civilians a break and not shoot through the hostages.
Ya know what? I don’t believe much of anything that anyone says anymore. You just can’t trust nobody.
You can apply reason to the buzz and sort out some kind of realistic picture.
In this case, the Russians and Syrians appear sufficiently concerned about the U.S. invasion of Syria to rush the re-conquest of East Ghouta and ignore niceties like avoiding excess civilian casualties. This was already difficult given DAESH human shield tactics. Before, the emphasis had been strategic, securing borders and oilfields.
How real the tactical threat East Ghouta was, was secondary to removing any temptation to reckless action on the part of the U.S.. East Ghouta was contained on Damascus’ doorstep and left alone in what appears to have been a kind of keep-your-enemies-closer kind of strategy.
However, containment relies on containment forces not being blasted out of existence by a directly U.S.-supported DAESH blitz desperately trying to end the war in a hurry with a headshot to Damascus.
No mention of the “napalm airstrike”!…Militants have already started leaving…
East Ghouta update: 17 buses with 950+ militants and their
family members leave Arbeen
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:40 P.M.) – The first wave of Faylaq Al-Rahman militants and their family members have left the East Ghouta region tonight, a Syrian military report confirmed. According to the military report, a total of 17 buses left the East Ghouta region via the ‘Arbeen crossing tonight. The 17 buses contained a total of 981 militants from Faylaq Al-Rahman and their family members. Another wave of militants and their family members are expected to depart from the East Ghouta tomorrow morning.