Assad regime airstrikes kill 8 civilians in E. Ghouta

By Burak Karacaoglu and Mohamad Misto

EASTERN GHOUTA, Syria (AA) - At least eight civilians were killed Saturday when forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad in Syria attacked residential areas in Eastern Ghouta, a Damascus suburb, Anadolu Agency correspondents reported from Damascus.

The regime airstrikes targeted Haresta, Madyara, Arbin and Misraba areas, the correspondents said, adding six civilians were killed in Arbin, while two women were killed in Haresta.

Scores of injured were transferred to local hospitals.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Assad regime agreed to the terms of the Russian-proposed truce, which covers the Eastern Ghouta district.

Eastern Ghouta falls within a network of de-escalation zones -- endorsed by Turkey, Russia and Iran -- in which acts of aggression are expressly forbidden.

Nevertheless, regime forces have maintained their attacks on the district, leaving dozens of civilians dead or injured.

According to local civil defense sources, at least 140 civilians have been killed by regime forces in the area in the period from Nov. 14 to Dec. 2.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating civil war that began in early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the fighting and more than 10 million displaced, according to the UN.