At least 60 people killed as Syrian fighter plane attacks eastern Damascus

A Syrian fighter plane attacks on eastern outskirts of Damascus killed at least 60 people and injured dozens with many in critical condition, according to opposition activists in Damascus. No further details are available now, but some sources in the Syrian opposition said that, the number of casualities might increase to more than 90.

After this attack, regime forces prevented ambulances from doing their duty; all telecomunications and transportation facilities have been stopped. Furthermore, opposition sources mentioned that regime forces are preparing for a wide military operation in the area where the helicopter have been downed earlier today.

No independent confirmation has been made to these claims yet.

Meanwhile, violent fighting between the regime forces and the Free Syrian Army fighters continued in several areas of northeast Damascus, in particular Jobar.

At least 95 people were reportedly killed across Syria. Of those, some 63 were killed in the in Damascus, including 25 in Zamalka, Jobar and in Kafar Batna, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria activist group.

Opposition sources said the rest of the casualties were reported killed in helicopter and mortar bombardments on other residential areas of Damascus.

The new death toll comes together with the announcement by the Syrian opposition of discovering at least 320 bodies in the predominantly Sunni town of Daraya. Five days ago, the army launched a massive operation in Daraya.

Most of the bodies, some of which were summarily executed, were found Saturday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. SOHR has reported that according to a provisional count, 15 women and 14 children were among the victims.

According to eyewitnesses, the regime forces imposed a blockade, cut off supplies to Daraya then bombed it indiscriminately with aircraft and heavy weapons. Pro-regime gangs called Shabiha led the summary executions.

Video footage posted by activists on Monday showed lineups of corpses, many of them women and children with gunshot wounds to their heads. Khaled Al-Shami, an activist from Damascus said: "I pray that you (Assad) will see your own children like this."

Rami Abdul-Rahman, the observatory's director, said activists on the ground identified 207 of the 320 as most of the killings took place on Friday and Saturday. But the extent of the carnage only began to be revealed Sunday.

For his part, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned these horrific and brutal crimes in Daraya, said the Secretary General’s press secretary, Martin Nesirky.

More as it becomes available.

Sources:

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=282822

http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-jet-attacks-damascus-suburbs-kill-least-60-201414579.html