At least 77 civilians, including 20 children, were killed yesterday in heavy bombardment by government forces against the rebel stronghold of eastern Gouta near Damascus, according to the latest report released by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
About 300 people were injured in airstrikes and artillery bombardment a day after Damascus decided to strengthen its position around the besieged enclave, a sign that it was preparing a ground operation.
The Turkish-based Syrian National Coalition, the largest opposition party still in exile, denounced in a press release a "war of extermination" in eastern Gouta, as well as the "silence of the international community" in the face of "Crimes" of the Assad government in the war that has been rocking Syria for almost 7 years.
"The regime is relentlessly bombing eastern Guta ahead of a ground offensive," Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP after gathering reinforcements around the area.