An aid convoy of food and medical supplies reached the besieged town of Douma in Damascus' Eastern Ghouta suburbs on Thursday as a part of the de-escalation deal brokered by Russia two weeks ago, local coordination committees said.
Accompanied by the Syrian Red Crescent, 48 trucks loaded with food rations, health supplies and other emergency items entered the district.
Meanwhile, Faylaq al-Rahman, a key rebel group fighting regime forces in the Eastern Ghouta, said on Wednesday it had ambushed the Syrian army’s elite forces for the fourth time in two weeks near the capital, killing 20 soldiers, a spokesman said.
The elite Fourth Armored Division has been facing fierce resistance in the town of Ayn Terma by rebels who oppose Russia’s cease-fire deal. About 50 troops were killed last week, according to Wael Alwan, spokesman for Faylaq al-Rahman.
Parts of the Eastern Ghouta are protected under a cease-fire agreement. The regime has largely targeted areas held by rebel factions not party to that agreement.
Last week, regime airstrikes on Kafr Batna and Zamalka left eight people dead, including children and emergency workers.
Meanwhile, Russia's Hemeimim base in the coastal province of Lattakia indicated on its Facebook page the possibility of brokering a new de-escalation deal in the Eastern Ghouta.
According to the statement, the agreement aims to "stop the bloody battles between the conflicting parties in the eastern part of the capital Damascus, in light of the increase in violence and measured by the current results." It is expected that the agreement will include a time limit for factions in the region to "finalize their fate."
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
