Damascus Stunned By Surprise Rebel Attack

Syrian rebel factions initiated a surprise attack on government forces on the Eastern outskirts of Damascus on Sunday, March 19th, 2017, according to Syrian State Media and other sources like The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The SOHR further reports that this is an area that has not experienced clashes in months, if not years. The clashes broke out in the district of Jobar, Northeastern Damascus, an area split between government and rebel control. According to Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of SOHR, the rebels seemed to have been prepared for the attack.

From the beginning of the conflict, the Syrian government and its militia allies have been in control of Damascus with the rebels having a foothold in very few places around Damascus. A part of Jobar, where the attacks originated from, is among a  few of the places that the rebels have a stronghold on.

The attacks were led by the Islamist groups, Ahrar al-Sham, as well as the recently formed umbrella Jihadist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, that was formed by al-Qaeda associate Jabhat Fatah al-Sham. Reports from Syrian media stated that the government forces had previously repelled an attack by jihadist fighters who had contrived to use tunnels as part of the initial attack on the government positions in the middle of the night.

To begin their attack, according to Rami Abdelrahman of the SOHR, rebels detonated two huge car bombs at approximately 5:20 AM on Sunday near Jobar. Then, they advanced into Abbasiyn Square area seizing many buildings while firing rockets into Damascus neighborhoods. The government forces’ response was to fire nearly a dozen airstrikes on Jobar.

It is still unclear as to the number of casualties, but reports suggest that there have been at least fifteen casualties so far. Footage from Syrian TV shows the Abbasiyn Square area, which is typically abuzz with activity and people, empty save for the sound of shelling. Residents said that artillery shells and rockets were landing in the center of the city. Further reports from the SOHR state that stray shells also struck the neighboring districts, including Bab Touma and Rukn al-Din. Several schools would also be closed on Monday while plenty of people remained indoors in fear of stray artillery.

Government forces have long sought to push the rebel forces away from Jobar due to the proximity of the city, Damascus. It is not difficult to see where the Syrian government is coming from with this intention. These clashes are not intermittent. They have been going on for at least six years now in an incessant struggle for the control of Damascus.

UN-sponsored peace talks happened earlier this month in Geneva with the aim of reaching an agreement between the two parties, which would ultimately see to the cessation of hostilities. There have been other efforts to help, as well. There was nothing definitive from the recent meeting in Geneva. However, there was an agreed agenda between the government and the opposition. It should be noted that in December, both the government and the rebels had agreed to cease all hostilities.

Ferdinand Bada
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