BEIRUT, Lebanon — Heavy clashes rocked eastern districts of the Syrian capital on Sunday as rebels and jihadists tried to fight their way into the city center in a surprise assault on government forces. ADVERTISEMENTSteady shelling and sniper fire could be heard across Damascus as rebel factions allied with former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front attacked regime positions in the city’s east. Schools closeRegime warplanes targeted rebel positions with more than 30 air strikes, Abdel Rahman said. The Islamist Faylaq al-Rahman rebel group and the Fateh al-Sham Front have a presence in the area, the Observatory said. Abdel Rahman said retaliatory government air strikes and shelling of the rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta east of Damascus killed 13 civilians.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 19, 2017 19:41 UTC