(Zaman Al Wasl)- Three civilians killed early Sunday in Ghouta suburbs as regime and allied militias launched fresh ground and aerial strikes on the eastern enclave of Damascus in spite of a UN resolution calling for a 30-day truce, local activists said.
Activists say 500 people have now been killed in a week of ferocious regime bombardment.
Eleven rebel and civil groups based in Eastern Ghouta called on the UN to end the Assad massacres, saying Russia is a partner in Gouta’s bloodshed along with Iran and Hezbollah militia.
In a provocative statement, Iran said attacks will continue on Eastern Ghouta, but elsewhere Iran and Syria will respect a U.N. resolution demanding a 30-day truce to allow aid access and medical evacuation, the Iranian military chief of staff was quoted as saying Sunday.
"We will adhere to the ceasefire resolution, Syria will also adhere. Parts of the suburbs of Damascus, which are held by the terrorists, are not covered by the ceasefire and clean-up [operations] will continue there," the semi-official news agency Tasnim quoted General Mohammad Baqeri as saying.
The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Saturday demanding a 30-day cease-fire across Syria "without delay" to deliver humanitarian aid to millions and evacuate the critically ill and wounded.
The vote was delayed for two days to try to get support from Russia, which said repeatedly that an immediate cease-fire was unrealistic.
Jaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman, the two main groups controlling Eastern Ghouta, issued separate statements late Saturday welcoming the trcue.
The resolution, adopted after repeated delays, did not specify when the truce would go into force but said it should be implemented "without delay" to allow for humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations.
"Jaish al-Islam is committed to protecting humanitarian convoys that will enter Ghouta," the group said in a statement.
But it warned that its fighters will "immediately respond to any violation" committed by regime forces.
Faylaq al-Rahman echoed that position.
"We confirm our full commitment to the [U.N.] resolution... Nevertheless, we reserve the right to defend the civilians of Eastern Ghouta in case of renewed attacks," it said in a statement.
The resolution states that 5.6 million people in 1,244 communities are in "acute need," including 2.9 million in hard-to-reach and besieged locations.
The resolution calls for all parties to immediately lift the sieges of populated areas including Eastern Ghouta, Yarmouk, Foua and Kefraya.
The Security Council authorized one exemption from the cease-fire.
It said attacks directed at extremists from Daesh (ISIS) and all al-Qaida affiliates including the Nusra Front will be allowed to continue.
In relevant development, well-informed sources told Zaman al-Wasl that Russia had supplied the regime forces with urgent shipments of weapons and air bombs a day before regime forces launched an all-out offensive to seize the eastern enclave.
Most of ammunition and weapons were delivered to Al-Dumayr military airport, 30 miles (45 km) east of the capital and located at the eastern gate of embattled suburbs.
(Zaman Al Wasl, Agencies)
Zaman Al Wasl
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