Syrian government forces gain ground in Ghouta, human rights monitor says

Syrian government forces gain ground in Ghouta, human rights monitor says
Above, smoke rises from the besieged Eastern Ghouta in Damascus. Fighting raged despite a Russian cease-fire plan, which collapsed after renewed offensive by Syrian government forces and allied militias. (Reuters)
Updated 28 February 2018 11:21
Follow

Syrian government forces gain ground in Ghouta, human rights monitor says

Syrian government forces gain ground in Ghouta, human rights monitor says

BEIRUT: Syrian government forces and allied militias gained ground on Wednesday in clashes with rebels in eastern Ghouta near Damascus as fighting raged despite a Russian cease-fire plan, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
The government forces advanced in the Hawsh Al-Dawahiri area on the eastern edge of the opposition’s besieged stronghold, the Observatory reported. The Syrian army and rebel sources could not immediately be reached for comment on the report.
The Russian plan is for daily, five-hour cease-fires in eastern Ghouta from 9 am to 2pm. But after a brief lull the agreement collapsed into renewed bombardment on Tuesday, the first day of the plan.