Syrian army shelling rebel positions amid fresh escalation

Syrian warplanes carried out multiple airstrikes against rebel-held positions in the eastern countryside of the capital Damascus on Wednesday, a military source told Xinhua.

The airstrikes targeted rebel positions in the neighborhoods of Jobar, Zamalka, Ayn Tarma, and Douma in the Eastern Ghouta Countryside, scoring straight hits against the rebels, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The airstrikes come as a response to the rebels, who have intensified their mortar shelling against the residential areas in the capital over the past few days.

The rebels' shelling targeted the Umayyad Square, the main square in central Damascus. They also targeted the Umayyad Mosque and the time-honored Hamidiyeh Souk in the old part of Damascus on Wednesday, leaving injuries only.

Also, three mortar rounds struck the vicinity of the Russian Embassy in the Mazraa neighborhood Wednesday, leaving some damages, local media reported.

A day earlier, at least 10 people were killed by rebel mortar fire in the southern province of Daraa, and the Aleppo.

The sounds of warplanes over Damascus were clearly heard on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning and afternoon.

The fresh escalation is part of the broader military showdown that has intensified in key areas recently, following the faltering cooperation between the United States and Russia, regarding achieving a ceasefire in Syria. Endit