Syrian government air strikes and artillery killed 71 people in the eastern Ghouta al-Sharqiya area in the vicinity of Damascus over the past 24 hours, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said today.
According to the British-based group's report, the people were killed as a result of an aerial and artillery bombardment by the Syrian Armed Forces loyal to Bashar al Assad.
About two weeks ago, members of the Syrian opposition reported that some 230 people, including dozens of children, had been killed in a similar attack.
Earlier this month, the UN called for a month-long humanitarian ceasefire in order to evacuate the wounded and deliver supplies, while Russia argued that a cease-fire was unrealistic and that extremists were to blame for the bloodshed.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said bombardment of the insurgent-held enclave started escalating on Sunday evening, wounding 325 people. Reuters reported no immediate comment from the Syrian military.
