Syrian forces kill 20 rebels amid shelling targeting Damascus

The Syrian forces killed 20 rebels east of the capital Damascus on Saturday, as part of flaring battles in that part of the city, according to the state news agency SANA.

Rebel commanders were among those killed in the east Eastern Ghouta countryside of Damascus, said SANA, spelling no further details.

Meanwhile, sources familiar with the situation told Xinhua that the rebels in the Damascus' eastern neighborhood of Jobar launched on Saturday a major offensive toward the nearby district of Zablatani, which is under the government control, prompting the Syrian force to respond with heavy fire power.

The sound of battles reverberated through different parts of Damascus as tens of exploding bullets were seen falling on areas in Damascus adjacent to the clashes sites.

The rebels' offensive was coupled by heavy mortar shelling against districts and squares inside Damascus, where plums of dark smokes were seen bellowing different areas as a result of the mortar shelling, which also left many cars ablaze inside the heavily-fortified capital.

The official Syrian TV said at least one person was killed and many others wounded by the fresh mortar attack.

Sources said the Syrian army successfully repelled the attack, which they said was "expected," adding that the Syrian forces fired over 50 shells into rebel positions in eastern Damascus within two hours only coupled by airstrikes.

The rebels in eastern Damascus have apparently carried out the offensive to lower the pressure on their comrades in the city of Zabadani in northwestern Damascus, where the Syrian forces and Hezbollah group launched a massive assault on Saturday in a bid to clear the city of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and likeminded groups. Endit