Islam Army attacks Assad army ceremony near Damascus

Islam Army, key rebels group, said in statement Tuesday 2 female officers have been killed and 15 others have been wounded by rebels' artillery shelling on the War College, near Damascus, during the graduation ceremony of new female officers.

The Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011 as a popular uprising against Assad that quickly escalated into civil war. More than 115,000 people have been killed since then and millions of Syrians have been displaced.

Rebel groups have become increasingly fractured, with Islamic extremists, including those linked to al-Qaida, assuming prominent roles in battle.