Syria: Government bombards Douma as talks fail April 6 /update 11

Event

Syrian government forces bombarded Douma, the last opposition-controlled city in Eastern Ghouta, on Friday, April 6, marking the end of a temporary ceasefire in the area. At least 32 people died in a coordinated air and ground offensive. The assault reportedly comes as Russia-brokered negotiations between the Syrian government and the Jaysh Al-Islam rebel group have fizzled. Additional fighting and further casualties are expected in the coming days in the absence of a restart of negotiations between the sides.

Context

The precise nature of the talks between the Syrian government and Jaysh Al-Islam over Douma has not been released. More than 1600 people have been killed and thousands of others wounded since the beginning of the regime and allied forces offensive on the area on February 18. According to the UN, over 130,000 people have fled Eastern Ghouta since the assault began; many thousands of others remain encircled in Douma. The Ghouta area was one of the last strongholds of Syrian opposition fighters in the Damascus region.

Advice

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise against all travel to Syria, with some banning travel to the country. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to any travel to Syria.