Syrian Capital Under Heavy Fire

Syrian conflict escalates

The main district of the Syrian capital Damascus has been under heavy fighting between opposition fighters and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

Heavy machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades echoed through the night from the western neighbourhood of al-Mezzeh. One of the most heavily guarded areas of the capital, the Syrian state television informed that three “terrorists” and a member of the government security forces perished during the attacks.

Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) stated that 18 troops were wounded in the crossfire.

Several high-ranking officials live in al-Mezzeh, the UN headquarters is also located there as well as embassies and their ambassadors. The latest fighting comes a day after a car bomb in the city of Aleppo, killed three people died, according to SOHR. (AV)