Syrian regime forces took almost complete control of the town of al-Shayfouniya in eastern Ghouta near Damascus on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, pressing an assault into the last rebel stronghold near the capital.
The spokesman for the rebel Jaish al-Islam group, writing on Twitter, said regime forces had mounted a failed attempt to storm a nearby area, al-Rayhan, but did not mention al-Shayfouniya.
A commander in the military alliance fighting in support of President
Bashar al-Assad said fighting was underway in al-Shayfouniya, without giving further details.
Jaish al-Islam said they killed 459 troops since the deadliest offensive began on February 18.
At least 21 civilians were killed by the regime forces in Eastern Ghouta on Saturday, Civil Defense rescuing group said
.
. Friday's strikes also killed 23 civilians in Ghouta, including 14 from the city of Douma.
. Friday's strikes also killed 23 civilians in Ghouta, including 14 from the city of Douma.
About 700 civilians have been killed since the Syrian government, aided by Russia, launched an air offensive on the largely rural area outside the capital on February 18, according to the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets.
Eastern Ghouta, home to nearly 400,000 people, has been besieged by the regime since opposition groups took control of the area in mid-2013.
The Security Council Saturday called for a 30-day countrywide truce. Russia, which backs the Syrian government in the war, has instead called for daily humanitarian ceasefires from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Regime forces, including the elite Tiger Force, have been attacking rebels in the Maraj area of the Ghouta for several days. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday they had captured two villages - Hawsh al-Dawahra and Hawsh Zreika - in addition to hills and farmland.
In their turn, Syrian rebels, including powerful Jaish al-Islam, said they had thwarted regime offensive in Hawsh al-Dawahra, killing 52 soldiers in the past 48 hours.
The spokesman for Jaish al-Islam, one of the main Ghouta rebel groups, said Thursday government forces had tried to divert their attention by opening a new front in the Hazerma area while also waging battles in nearby Hawsh al-Dawahra.
Rebels had used artillery fire to disable two tanks.
The commander in the military alliance that backs Assad said regime forces had taken some villages on the Maraj area.
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