Backed by Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah fighters and militias loyal to
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Despoiler of Deraa...
, the army was "advancing on Sbeineh and has taken control of parts of it," said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman.
The advance comes amid "fierce shelling" on the town "since early this morning," he said.
Abdel Rahman said "people were fleeing their homes, and there are serious fears for the lives of the large number of civilians living in that area.
"The army is trying to advance on areas in the south of the capital, and is trying to isolate them completely from the southern countryside," where the rebels have rear bases, he added.
The reports come a day after army rocket fire killed eight people in Damascus' southern Al-Hajad Al-Aswad neighborhood, which was part of an escalation by the regime in the area.