Regime forces kill 77 in Syria

Damascus [Syria], Feb 20 (ANI): At least 77 people were killed and over 40 were injured in fresh regime attacks in Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus on Monday, local civil defence forces said on Monday.

"20 civilians, including women and children, were killed in an airstrike in the town of Hammuriya in Eastern Ghouta", the sources affiliated with the White Helmets civil defence agency said in a statement.

"14 people were killed in ground and air attacks in the town of Saqba, while four others were killed by an airstrike in the town of Jisrin", the statement added.

The statement continued that 17 civilians were killed and 45 were injured in regime barrel bomb and ground attacks in the town of Beit Sawa. Also, three civilians were killed in regime attack in Kafr Batna and Zamalka towns.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides also issued a joint written statement late Monday regarding the humanitarian situation in Eastern Ghouta and Idlib.

"Unhindered humanitarian access to civilians inside Syria and the protection of civilians and infrastructure is a matter of urgency to prevent further loss of life. The international community should unite to stop this human suffering," the statement read.

Since December last year, continued regime attacks have claimed more than 500 lives and injured over 2,000 people.

Eastern Ghouta, which houses around 400,000 residents, has remained under a crippling regime siege for the last five years, the Anadolu news agency reported.

In May last year, Russia, Iran and Turkey signed an agreement to set up de-escalation centres in order to reduce violence and airstrikes in some parts of Syria.

De-escalation zones include the Idlib Province, some parts of Latakia, Hama and Aleppo Provinces, Homs, Eastern Ghouta, Daraa and al-Quneitra Provinces in southern Syria.

Syria has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011.

Protestors have for long been demanding the resignation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over his autocratic rule. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI