Syrian regime steps up deadly ground offensive in Eastern Ghouta

SYRIAN troops and allied militia seized several villages in Eastern Ghouta over the weekend, in what appeared to be the start of a ground offensive to crush the besieged opposition stronghold.

Regime forces seized up to a quarter of the rebel-held enclave in fighting that sent hundreds of civilians fleeing, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said yesterday.

More than 600 people have been killed and 2,000 injured since the Syrian regime launched an air and artillery bombardment on Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, on Feb 18.

The United Nations said yesterday that a 40-lorry convoy loaded with aid was denied permission to enter the district, despite the escalation in violence.

“The convoy to east Ghouta is not able to proceed today,” a UN official said, adding that the UN and its humanitarian partners remained “on standby to deliver desperately needed assistance as soon as conditions allow”.

Just one small convoy with a month’s worth of supplies for 7,200 people has been allowed to enter Ghouta so far this year, in mid-february.

The weekend offensive came as western governments called on allies of Mr Assad to put pressure on Damascus to halt the attacks.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, called on Hassan Rouhani, his Iranian counterpart, to put the “necessary pressure” on the Syrian government to halt “indiscriminate” attacks on civilians in the rebel-held enclave.

In a telephone call, Mr Macron underscored the “particular responsibility for Iran, because of its ties to the regime, regarding the implementation of the humanitarian truce” sought by the UN, his office said. Mr Macron is expected to visit Iran this year.

Nearly 400,000 people are believed to be trapped in Eastern Ghouta. Violence there has escalated sharply over the past weeks despite a UN Security Council resolution that has called for a ceasefire.

The Syrian Army said it was firing on militant areas in the enclave in response to the targeting of Damascus, just 10 miles away. But photographs, videos and first-hand accounts from inside the enclave suggest civilians and especially children are paying the highest price.

Regime forces dropped leaflets on Eastern Ghouta before the offensive on Saturday night, informing residents of safe spaces, humanitarian corridors and medical points.

However, no civilians have passed through a humanitarian corridor set up by Russia and the Syrian government nearly a week ago. Observer groups said civilians fleeing the advancing troops were taking cover in underground shelters, rather than passing into the hands of government troops they do not trust.

Activists with the Syrian American Medical Society inside Eastern Ghouta said yesterday that its members had counted 2,750 air strikes since the offensive began.

The government assault has also included the use of 3,850 missiles and 840 barrel bombs, the group said.