The Ahrar al-Sham group, headquartered in Harasta, is the smallest of the rebel groups that control eastern Ghouta. Syrian government forces have chipped away at the sprawling rebel enclave of eastern Ghouta, seizing more than 70 per cent of the territory since Feb. 18. The government blamed the attack on rebels in eastern Ghouta. Government forces have made major gains in recent days, leaving just a small fraction of eastern Ghouta under rebel control. Syrian and Russian forces have opened a third corridor in eastern Ghouta to allow civilians to leave Harasta, which is home to an estimated 20,000 people.

Source: National Post March 21, 2018 09:39 UTC