国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Peace far away as showdown approaches Syrias Eastern Ghouta_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Peace far away as showdown approaches Syrias Eastern Ghouta

Late last Sunday, the Syrian army amassed forces at the outskirts of Eastern Ghouta and started heavily shelling the rebel positions in Eastern Ghouta with artillery and airstrikes that could be clearly heard across the capital.

But the situation is not easy, as around 350,000 civilians are still living in Eastern Ghouta, which is a large countryside constituting of several towns and villages under the rebel control.

Eastern Ghouta has for long been the major threat to the capital Damascus, with rebels, including al-Qaida-linked ones, launching several attacks to infiltrate the capital.

Four key rebel groups are positioned inside Eastern Ghouta such as the Islam Army, Failaq al-Rahman, Ahrar al-Sham and the Levant Liberation Committee (LLC), otherwise known as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

Apparently, the decision has been made to decisively eliminate the threat on the eastern rim of Damascus.

The mortar attacks on the capital and the airstrikes against the rebel-held areas in Eastern Ghouta have largely increased since Sunday.

Syrian TVs have aired several interviews with people on the streets in Damascus, most of whom have supported a massive military offensive on Eastern Ghouta to rid the city of the threat of the mortar attacks that are rattling the daily life in Damascus.

On the other hand, the opposition activists are reporting "catastrophic" situation in eastern Ghouta, claiming that hundreds of people have been killed or wounded in the recent days.