Syrian jets bomb rebel-held eastern Damascus suburbs, dozens killed

Syrian government jets on Monday bombed residential areas in the eastern countryside of Damascus, killing and injuring dozens in some of the heaviest bombing raids on the main rebel enclave near the capital in months, residents and activists said.

At least 22 people were killed and scores injured after four aerial raids hit a crowded district in the city of Douma, the main urban centre of the Eastern Ghouta rebel stronghold to the east of the capital.

Many other bodies were still under the rubble, civil workers said.

The pro-opposition civil defence said on its twitter account that there were 21 raids alone on the other towns of Hamurya, Harasta and Saqba in Eastern Ghouta. 

The densely-populated rural area east of Damascus known as the Eastern Ghouta has been besieged since 2013.

In the town of Saqba, just south of Douma, at least five people were killed when jets believed to be Russian struck a main market square in the town, two residents said.

"We are civilians. Why are they hitting us? Jets are above us. There are no terrorists," said a screaming young man in footage shown on pro-opposition Orient TV.

The Syrian army said on Monday it had hit at the heart of rebel positions in Jobar, Arbeen and Zamalka and areas in the Eastern Ghouta, knocking down missile launchers and killing scores of "terrorists".

The Syrian army has said it is fighting against foreign-financed terrorists who fire mortars on government-held areas in the capital. 

The intensive raids followed an offensive begun by the Syrian army and its allies since late February to encircle the rebel-held Barza neighbourhood of the capital and cut it off from nearby Qaboun.

Several hundred thousand people are believed to be trapped there with the authorities making it difficult for humanitarian aid to be delivered by United Nations organisations.

Residents believe the government aims to push them into an eventual surrender through siege and bombardment.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said on Monday Washington does not believe that the Syrian people want President Bashar al-Assad as their leader any longer.

"We don't think the people want Assad anymore," Haley said when asked about US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's remarks in the Turkish capital Ankara last week. Tillesron had said that Assad's status would be decided by the Syrian people.

Haley had remarked last week that toppling Assad was not a priority for the US administration. 

Air strikes near Damascus

Syrian government jets on Monday bombed residential areas in the eastern countryside of Damascus, killing and injuring dozens in some of the heaviest bombing raids on the main rebel enclave near the capital in months, residents and activists said.

At least 22 people were killed and scores injured after four aerial raids hit a crowded district in the city of Douma, the main urban centre of the Eastern Ghouta rebel stronghold to the east of the capital.

Many other bodies were still under the rubble, civil workers said.

The pro-opposition civil defence said on its Twitter account that there were 21 raids alone on the other towns of Hamurya, Harasta and Saqba in Eastern Ghouta. 

The densely-populated rural area east of Damascus known as the Eastern Ghouta has been besieged since 2013.