Regime tanks kill 12 civilians in Syria's Wadi Barada

By Halit Suleyman

DAMASCUS, Syria (AA) – At least 12 civilians were killed and another 20 injured Sunday by regime tank fire in the Wadi (Valley) Barada region northwest of capital Damascus, a local activist said.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Yusuf el-Bustani, a local activist said that fire opened on civilians from tanks belonging to the Assad regime forces stationed in the Wadi Barada region.

Bustani said that the crowd gathered around a wedding hall in Deir Qanun village in Wadi Barada, adding that some injured were in critical condition.

Wadi el-Barada lies 16 kilometers to central Damascus and 12 km to the Lebanese border.

On Dec. 30, a cease-fire deal brokered by Turkey and Russia went into effect throughout Syria.

But Riyad Hijab, chief coordinator for Syria’s opposition High Negotiations Committee, said last week that the regime and its allies have violated the truce some 400 times – killing at least 271 people – since it came into effect.