Syrian forces successfully retake rebel-held Eastern Ghouta province; 1,644 civilians killed in offensive

Damascus, April 2: Finally! The Syrian government on Sunday reclaimed Eastern Ghouta province which was held by Islamist-dominated fighters after a relentless six-week airstrike with rockets, barrel bombs. During the six-week of an offensive, at least 1,644 civilians, including 344 children, have been killed while hundreds of others were injured.

 

Notably, the Syrian forces after retaking Eastern Ghouta province cemented President Bashar al-Assad’s rule by securing the capital and roads that link it to other parts of the country. “However, some fighting continued around Douma, the largest town in Eastern Ghouta and stronghold of the Army of Islam group which will be at conclusion soon,” the Syrian army said in a statement.

The statement further added that the fall of Eastern Ghouta will restore security in Damascus and to roads connecting it to central, northern and eastern Syria. “Almost 2,00,000 people have been evacuated to government-controlled areas or to Idlib, home to mostly Islamist fighters in the northwest,” Syrian Army noted.

Meanwhile, the United States, the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies have blamed Syrian forces of killing civilians by using chemical weapons which are banned by International communities. Despite worldwide criticism, Syrian government forces continuing intensified airstrikes on Eastern Ghouta and reclaimed the province.

Eastern Ghouta was held by rebels since 2012 and is the last opposition pocket around Damascus but the province is dominated by the Islamist faction Jaish al-Islam. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is keen to retake Eastern Ghouta with an apparently imminent ground assault. So far, over 340,000 people have been killed since the civil war erupted in 2011.