Syrian regime launches apparent ground assault on Eastern Ghouta

Syrian troops and allied militia seized several villages in Eastern Ghouta over the weekend, in what appeared to be the start of a ground offensive to crush the besieged opposition stronghold. Regime forces seized up to a quarter of the rebel-held enclave in fighting that sent hundreds of civilians fleeing, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday. Earlier, the Syrian armed forces said they had captured villages along the edge of the enclave. Over 600 people have been killed and tw