Syria civil war: At least two people dead after violence erupts in and around a rebel-held town near Damascus
'There will be no further negotiations with terrorists over the evacuation deal,' state TV says
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.At least two people have died after violence erupted in and around a rebel-held town near the Syrian capital Damascus.
The conflict signalled an apparent collapse of a truce and an evacuation deal for opposition fighters to leave the area, state media and opposition activists said.
The violence came after almost two weeks of relative peace in eastern Ghouta, the last rebel-held town in the region, after a Russian backed truce allowed the Army of Islam to evacuate the area towards rebel-held regions in the north of the country.
Several air strikes hit Douma after members of the Army of Islam rebel group shelled government-held areas nearby, inflicting casualties, Syrian state TV reported.
Hundreds of opposition fighters and their relatives left Douma towards northern areas controlled by Turkey-backed opposition fighters in the north.
The evacuations have been suspended since 5 April and Army of Islam members have refused to release scores of government supporters they have been holding for years.
There have been reports that the Army of Islam wants to negotiate a new deal, complaining of mistreatment by Turkish troops in northern Syria.
"There will be no further negotiations with terrorists over the evacuation deal. No one will be able to twist the army of the Syrian Arab Army," a state TV reporter said as sporadic explosions could be heard in the background.
"They will either release the detainees or the terrorists' hideouts and offices will be destroyed."
Army of Islam official Ammar al-Hassan said he had no information on whether the truce collapsed.
The British based monitors, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said two people were killed and 25 wounded in the air strikes that hit Douma on Friday.
Haitham Bakkar, a media activist based in Douma, said at least four were killed and many others wounded.
Before the strikes, a bomb exploded near a mosque in Damascus, killing one person and wounding six others, according to state news agency Sana. It said the blast occurred in the north-eastern neighbourhood of Barzeh, close to the al-Khansaa mosque.
Such explosions have been rare in Damascus recently.
Barzeh is close to the eastern Damascus suburb of Harasta that opposition fighters evacuated last month following weeks of a crushing government offensive on eastern Ghouta.
Agencies contributed to this report
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments