Syrian regime air strikes and artillery fire killed 23 civilians on Sunday across the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region outside the capital Damascus, a monitor said.
The deaths come despite the area falling within a so-called “de-escalation zone” put in place under a deal between government allies Russia and Iran and rebel backer Turkey.
Eastern Ghouta is already in the grip of a humanitarian crisis caused by a crushing regime siege of the area since 2013 that has caused severe food and medical shortages.
On Sunday, government air strikes on the areas of Mesraba and Madira killed 21 civilians, while artillery fire on the town of Douma killed another two civilians, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.
“The toll could rise further because of the number of wounded people in a serious condition,” said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.
Among the dead were four children, the Observatory said.
Regime bombardment of Eastern Ghouta in the last two weeks has killed more than 100 people, according to the Observatory.
Rebels have also fired from the region into Damascus, killing several people.
Humanitarian access to Eastern Ghouta has remained limited despite the implementation of the truce zone, and a United Nations official referred to the region as the “epicenter of suffering” in Syria.
More than 340,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.
GMT 10:35 2017 Monday ,27 November
15 children die in airstrike on Daesh-held villageGMT 19:29 2017 Tuesday ,14 November
Air raids on market kill 53 in north Syria townGMT 19:41 2017 Tuesday ,17 October
16-year-old murders father and two more in BeirutGMT 16:06 2017 Friday ,06 October
Russian strikes kill 14 civilians in eastern SyriaGMT 19:33 2017 Sunday ,01 October
3,000 killed in Syria in deadliest month of 2017Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©