In response to the Syrian Army’s offensive in Damascus’ east Ghouta pocket, Islamist militants have intensified shelling on areas of the city under the government’s control, deliberately targeting cafes, restaurants, schools and residential areas, in addition to governmental buildings.
Local sources reported to Sputnik reporter Suliman Mulhem that “thousands of residents” have fled the city with their families over the past week, heading towards Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus.
Those who have fled are likely to avoid Damascus until the Syrian Army dislodges militants from the entirety of Damascus.
Although some have fled to safety, the vast majority Damascus’ inhabitants – which includes hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Syrians – have no choice but to stay in the city and face the daily barrage of militant rocket fire.
Militants have regularly launched mortars and other munitions at Damascus since the early years of the conflict, but the intensity of the current level of shelling is unprecedented.
The Syrian government has reported a sharp increase in casualties sustained from such terror attacks, but a number of Damascenes told Sputnik they believe the government is underreporting casualties to contain and reduce the “atmosphere of panic.”
Despite the government’s best-efforts to keep life going in Damascus, they briefly closed a number of schools in late February, as they couldn’t guarantee the safety of their pupils due to relentless and deliberate rocket attacks on the schools.