[EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] The Syrian regime forces on Thursday have continued their ground and aerial campaign on the villages of Wadi Barada valley northwest of the capital for the ninth day where about 100,000 civilians live in deteriorating living conditions.Local activists said more than 60-barrel bombs had been dropped on the mountainous villages on the border with Leb, killing five people and threatening the main water supply of Damascus to be dried.
The regime army escalated aerial bombing on valley about 18 km (11 miles) northwest of the capital to recapture the strategic area where a major spring provides most of the capital's water supplies, rebels and residents said.
They said the army shelled and bombarded several towns in Wadi Barada valley in a major offensive launched since last Friday. The roads leading to the towns in the valley and the mountain cliffs surrounding the area are under the control of elite Republic Guards and the Lebanese Shi'ite Hezbollah group, they said.
Residents said fighting focused on Baseimeh village at the edge of the valley where the army and its allies are pushing to advance deeper in an enclave where 10 villages are inhabited by an estimated 100,000 people.
The rebels said the army was emboldened by gaining full control of Aleppo city and was seeking to force them to either leave or face all out war.