Shiite Militants kill 30 people near Damascus

Abu Fadhl al-Abbas, Shiite militant group, opened fire Wednesday on civilians who were fleeing Eastern Ghouta to Beit Sahm, south Damascus, killing at least 30 people, local activists said.

The small town mediation committee was preparing to rescue tens of families through enabling them to enter Beit sahm, which hosts 16,000 refugees, mostly from the occupied Golan Heights. But forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad, backed with the Iraqi militants opened fire when the families were crossing the checkpoint.  

An estimated 126,000 people have been killed and millions displaced by Syria's civil war, which erupted after a fierce government crackdown on pro-democracy protests first held in March 2011.