After U.N. action, 6 die in Syria capital, suburbs
BEIRUT — Despite a drop in intensity, shelling and bombardment in the Syrian capital and its embattled eastern suburbs killed at least six people Sunday following the U.N. Security Council’s unanimous approval of a resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire across Syria, opposition activists and residents of Damascus said.
Attacks on residential areas appear to have shifted to strikes on front lines where some of the most intense fighting took place throughout the day between government forces and their allies against insurgents. State media said that troops pushed into the eastern suburbs, reports that the opposition denied.
Opposition activists reported clashes on the southern edge of the rebel-held suburbs, known as eastern Ghouta, and two airstrikes late on Saturday night, shortly after the resolution was adopted. During the day Sunday, more shelling and airstrikes were reported in eastern Ghouta and Damascus.
The drop in violence came after a week of intense airstrikes and shelling that killed more than 500 people in eastern Ghouta and left dozens dead or wounded in the government-held Damascus, which rebels pelted with mortar shells.
“This has been the calmest night since last Sunday,” said Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, referring to the start of the bombing campaign on Feb. 19.
Syrian state TV said the army captured several buildings in the rebel-held suburb of Harasta and pushed into other areas in eastern Ghouta that is besieged by government forces. It also said troops captured three small towns.
State news agency SANA said insurgents breached the truce by firing 15 shells Sunday on governmentheld areas on the edge of Ghouta.