Smoke rises over the rebel-held area of Ain Tarma, eastern countryside of Damascus, capital of Syria, on Feb. 7, 2017. At least 20 airstrikes targeted rebel-held areas in the eastern countryside of the capital Damascus on Tuesday, leaving unknown losses, a monitor group reported. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
DAMASCUS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 airstrikes targeted rebel-held areas in the eastern countryside of the capital Damascus on Tuesday, leaving unknown losses, a monitor group reported.
The airstrikes targeted the rebel bastions of Jobar and Arbeen in the Eastern Ghouta region east of Damascus, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The London-based watchdog group said the airstrikes were coupled with intense battles between the Syrian army and the rebel fighters in that part of the capital.
Still, the reasons behind the eruption of the battles and airstrikes were unknown, as that front has remained largely calm since a Turkish-Russian-sponsored ceasefire went into force on Dec. 30.
The sound of warplanes and the strikes were clearly heard in Damascus on Tuesday, and the rebels fired many mortar shells on the capital, one of which slammed near the Faculty of Law in central Damascus, with losses remained unknown.
