Civilians in S. Damascus Caught Between Militants, Govt. Troops

Hundreds of civilians living in a militant-held pocket of southern Damascus were caught in fierce clashes between Russian-backed Syrian government forces and militant groups controlling southern Damascus neighborhoods. Syrian government forces launched a military operation five days ago to seize the area. “Dozens of families took refuge in basements and shelters, suffering in dire conditions from lack of water and food, as fighter jets continue to pummel the area,” Mattar Ismael, a journalist living in south Damascus, told VOA.