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| Ghouta: thousands of civilians flee fresh regime bombardment | Ghouta: thousands of civilians flee fresh regime bombardment |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than 12,000 people have fled the besieged region of eastern Ghouta towards Syrian government troops, seeking shelter from an overnight bombardment that killed dozens of people and levelled much of a town in the enclave. | More than 12,000 people have fled the besieged region of eastern Ghouta towards Syrian government troops, seeking shelter from an overnight bombardment that killed dozens of people and levelled much of a town in the enclave. |
| Videos broadcast by Russian television stations showed throngs of civilians marching out of the area after three weeks of shelling and airstrikes that have killed more than 1,500 civilians in what was described by UN officials as “hell on earth”. | Videos broadcast by Russian television stations showed throngs of civilians marching out of the area after three weeks of shelling and airstrikes that have killed more than 1,500 civilians in what was described by UN officials as “hell on earth”. |
| The images of their flight towards government troops that had bombarded their homes the previous night underscored the desperation of civilians faced with a choice of death under the rubble of their homes or displacement and possible retribution by advancing forces loyal to the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which seek to crush the last opposition-held enclave near Damascus. | The images of their flight towards government troops that had bombarded their homes the previous night underscored the desperation of civilians faced with a choice of death under the rubble of their homes or displacement and possible retribution by advancing forces loyal to the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which seek to crush the last opposition-held enclave near Damascus. |
| “The most difficult scene is how people are going on foot to those who, a day earlier, or hours earlier, were throwing at them barrel bombs, chlorine, phosphorus, and incendiary weapons,” said one local journalist in eastern Ghouta. “It’s a matter of survival, and people are saying we are dead either way.” | “The most difficult scene is how people are going on foot to those who, a day earlier, or hours earlier, were throwing at them barrel bombs, chlorine, phosphorus, and incendiary weapons,” said one local journalist in eastern Ghouta. “It’s a matter of survival, and people are saying we are dead either way.” |
| The flight from the town of Hamouriyeh on Thursday after a night of destruction was confirmed by the war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which said 12,500 people fled the area towards regime lines. Syrian state TV said thousands more had fled. | The flight from the town of Hamouriyeh on Thursday after a night of destruction was confirmed by the war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which said 12,500 people fled the area towards regime lines. Syrian state TV said thousands more had fled. |
| It was unclear whether the initial exodus would lead to further flight among the estimated 300,000 civilians still in eastern Ghouta, encouraged by the initial wave. But local medics reported continuing airstrikes and shelling in various areas of the region even as civilians streamed out. | It was unclear whether the initial exodus would lead to further flight among the estimated 300,000 civilians still in eastern Ghouta, encouraged by the initial wave. But local medics reported continuing airstrikes and shelling in various areas of the region even as civilians streamed out. |
| Many were left questioning what guarantees for safety they would have if they were to leave. | Many were left questioning what guarantees for safety they would have if they were to leave. |
| “The problem is those civilians who left have no international guarantees,” said another resident. “What will happen … other than the violation of human rights and forced displacement, is they will take the military age youth to the army and they’ll arrest whoever is on their wanted list.” | “The problem is those civilians who left have no international guarantees,” said another resident. “What will happen … other than the violation of human rights and forced displacement, is they will take the military age youth to the army and they’ll arrest whoever is on their wanted list.” |
| He added: “God knows what will happen. The scene makes you weep.” | He added: “God knows what will happen. The scene makes you weep.” |
| Unprecedented protests demand civil liberties and the release of political prisoners after four decades of repressive rule by the Assad family. The regime represses demonstrations in Damascus and the southern city of Deraa but protests continue. | |
| Defecting army colonel Riad al-Asaad sets up the Turkey-based rebel Free Syrian Army. Islamist groups join the revolt. | |
| Regime forces take control of the rebel stronghold in Homs after a month of bombardment. Other bloody operations are carried out, notably in the central city of Hama, after massive anti-regime protests. | |
| FSA fighters launch a battle for Damascus but the government holds firm. | |
| More than 1,400 people die in a chemical weapon attack on rebel-held districts near Damascus. | |
| The US and Assad ally Russia agree a plan to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons, averting punitive US strikes against the regime. | |
| Hostilities between jihadists and rebel groups turn into an open war in the north. The group that will become known as Islamic State takes Raqqa – the first provincial capital to fall out of regime control – from rebel forces. | |
| A US-led coalition launches airstrikes against Isis in Syria. The strikes benefit Kurdish groups, which since 2013 have run autonomous administrations in Kurdish-majority areas. | |
| Russia launches airstrikes in support of Assad's troops, who are on the back foot. Russian firepower helps turn the tables for the regime, which begins to retake rebel-held territory. | |
| The regime retakes Syria's second city, Aleppo. | |
| Russia and Iran, as backers of the Syrian regime, and Turkey, a supporter of the rebels, organise talks in Kazakhstan, between representatives of both sides. The process leads to the creation of four "de-escalation zones". | |
| A sarin gas attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun kills more than 80 people, prompting Washington to attack a regime airbase. | |
| Further complicating an already drawn-out conflict, Turkey launches an operation against the Kurdish People's Protection Units which, with US support, played a key role in beating back Isis. | |
| Regime launches a ferocious assault on the remaining rebel-held enclave near Damascus, eastern Ghouta. In under four weeks, the Russian-backed onslaught kills more than 1,200 civilians. | |
| Local medics said 43 people were killed on Wednesday, compounding the humanitarian catastrophe in a region. The death toll rose during the afternoon as other towns in eastern Ghouta continued to suffer airstrikes and shelling that residents said had continued overnight. | Local medics said 43 people were killed on Wednesday, compounding the humanitarian catastrophe in a region. The death toll rose during the afternoon as other towns in eastern Ghouta continued to suffer airstrikes and shelling that residents said had continued overnight. |
| Local medics issued urgent distress calls as Assad forces breached rebel lines in Hamouriyeh, which last week was subjected to apparent toxic gas attack. | Local medics issued urgent distress calls as Assad forces breached rebel lines in Hamouriyeh, which last week was subjected to apparent toxic gas attack. |
| “More than 5,000 people are at risk of annihilation,” said a doctor in the town by text message. “Please get our voice out to the world, this might be the last message I’m able to send. The wounded are in the streets and cannot be moved and the planes are targeting any movement. Dozens of families are trying to flee under fire and we don’t know their fate.” | “More than 5,000 people are at risk of annihilation,” said a doctor in the town by text message. “Please get our voice out to the world, this might be the last message I’m able to send. The wounded are in the streets and cannot be moved and the planes are targeting any movement. Dozens of families are trying to flee under fire and we don’t know their fate.” |
| The doctor has been unreachable since Wednesday night, the eve of the seventh anniversary of the revolt against the Assad regime. | The doctor has been unreachable since Wednesday night, the eve of the seventh anniversary of the revolt against the Assad regime. |
| Wednesday’s death toll brought the total number of civilians killed since 19 February in eastern Ghouta to 1,540, according to local civilian authorities. More than half a million people have been killed across Syria in a civil war that appears to have no end in sight. | Wednesday’s death toll brought the total number of civilians killed since 19 February in eastern Ghouta to 1,540, according to local civilian authorities. More than half a million people have been killed across Syria in a civil war that appears to have no end in sight. |
| The civilian death toll is unconfirmed because many bodies remain unclaimed under the rubble of homes. The Assad regime’s offensive in the eastern Ghouta, once the breadbasket of Damascus, aims to crush the last opposition stronghold near the Syrian capital. | The civilian death toll is unconfirmed because many bodies remain unclaimed under the rubble of homes. The Assad regime’s offensive in the eastern Ghouta, once the breadbasket of Damascus, aims to crush the last opposition stronghold near the Syrian capital. |
| Eastern Ghouta has been under siege for years and in 2013 was the target of the deadliest chemical attack of the conflict, which killed more than 1,200 people. | Eastern Ghouta has been under siege for years and in 2013 was the target of the deadliest chemical attack of the conflict, which killed more than 1,200 people. |
| Regime forces backed by Russian airstrikes have split the region into three distinct areas, each under blockade, as relentless waves of aerial and artillery bombardment pummel the enclave. | Regime forces backed by Russian airstrikes have split the region into three distinct areas, each under blockade, as relentless waves of aerial and artillery bombardment pummel the enclave. |
| “They are taking town and after town and everything has been burned,” said another doctor in the town of Arbin. “It is systematic destruction that is meant to bring down the entire area on the heads of its residents. There is no place to flee to. People are scared of a slaughter,” he added. | “They are taking town and after town and everything has been burned,” said another doctor in the town of Arbin. “It is systematic destruction that is meant to bring down the entire area on the heads of its residents. There is no place to flee to. People are scared of a slaughter,” he added. |
| The violence has continued despite an ongoing deal to evacuate wounded civilians on a list agreed upon with the government from another town in the enclave, Douma, supervised by the Red Cross and Red Crescent. It has persisted also despite a UN security council resolution calling for a month-long ceasefire “without delay” and unimpeded humanitarian aid deliveries. | The violence has continued despite an ongoing deal to evacuate wounded civilians on a list agreed upon with the government from another town in the enclave, Douma, supervised by the Red Cross and Red Crescent. It has persisted also despite a UN security council resolution calling for a month-long ceasefire “without delay” and unimpeded humanitarian aid deliveries. |
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| Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
| Bashar al-Assad | Bashar al-Assad |
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