Mortar attack kills 3 near Syrian capital

At least three people were killed Saturday when two mortar shells struck a pro-government suburb of the capital Damascus, the state-run SANA news agency reported. The mortars landed at a residential building in the Saida Zainab suburb, SANA said, adding that the attack also damaged some parked cars and other properties. The agency also reported a fresh operation by the Syrian army in the countryside of Damascus, mainly the Eastern Ghouta and Douma suburbs. Meanwhile, the oppositional Damascus Media Office reported intense clashes between the rebels and the Syrian troops, which reportedly have been trying to storm the western Damascus suburb of Muadamieh from its northern front. The activists report said that Muadamieh was in a "miserable situation" due to the government troops' siege. Activists also reported intense shelling on the rebellious district of Barzeh in northern Damascus, adding that the security forces carried out raids and arrest campaigns in the northern district of Rukin Addien. The Syrian conflict has claimed over 100,000 lives in the past two and a half years with the army and the rebels at each other's throat.