“The negotiations have ended with failure. As far as Douma is concerned, resolving it militarily is the solution,” the commander told Reuters.Correspondents with state TV stations indicated the assault may stop if the group released abductees as per an agreement. The rebels must “submit to the condition of the Syrian state: the abductees in exchange for a halt of the military operation”, a reporter with al-Ikhbariya said.Tens of thousands of people are estimated to be sheltering in Douma, the Observatory says. It said the air strikes were likely to have been carried out by Russian war planes.State media said a child was killed and 15 civilians wounded in Jaish al-Islam shelling of residential areas of Damascus.State TV, in an on-screen news flash, said Jaish al-Islam was obstructing a deal and had refused to released abductees it has been holding.The group has consistently rejected the idea of leaving Douma for areas near the Turkish border, saying this amounts to a policy of forced population transfer by Assad.Russian-backed Syrian government forces launched their offensive against eastern Ghouta in February. It has been one of the most ferocious attacks of the war, killing more than 1,600 civilians in rebel-held areas, the Observatory says.

Source: Egypt Today April 06, 2018 16:30 UTC