Damascus suburbs hit as Syrian rebels launch deadly raid

Rebel fighters stormed an army post in a Damascus neighbourhood killing six soldiers, while intense shelling by regime forces sent residents fleeing in panic, a watchdog and activists said on Tuesday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least two civilians died when Douma, in the capital’s northeast, was rocked by shelling following the deadly raid by the rebels during the night on a medical centre that has now been taken over by the military.

“The army had transformed the centre into a barracks and snipers were positioned there,” observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said.

An amateur video posted by activists reported an exodus of residents of Douma and showed several vehicles with women inside driving off in the dark of night.

Troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad also blasted a string of rebel strongholds in towns and suburbs outside the capital at dawn, including in Babila, Hosh al-Arab, Saqba and Zabadani, the Britain-based Observatory said.

The Local Coordination Committees, an activist network, reported that more than 100 shells fell on Zabadani, once a resort destination known for its mild weather and scenic views just northwest of the capital but now devastated by the civil war ravaging Syria.

Elsewhere in Damascus province, the town of Yabroud came under fierce artillery fire, the LCC said.