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All so-called “rebels” in Eastern Ghouta are US-supported terrorists.

They’re holding countless thousands of Syrian civilians hostage as human shields, unexplained by Western media, waging daily anti-Syria, anti-Russia propaganda war.

Security Council Res. 2401 was adopted on Saturday. As expected, US-supported terrorists breached it straightaway.

Using foreign-supplied weapons and munitions, al-Nusra, Jaysh al-Islam, and Failak al-Rahman have been shelling Damascus before and after the ceasefire took effect.

Russian center for Syrian reconciliation General Yuri Yevtushenko said the following:

“The humanitarian, social and economic situation in Eastern Ghouta is deliberately exacerbated by the leaders of the al-Islam, Failak Ar-Rahman and Jabhat al-Nusra illegal armed groups.”

“All attempts by the government of the Syrian Arab Republic to provide assistance to civilians in the Eastern Ghouta region are blocked by militants.”

On Sunday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said

“(t)he situation in East Ghouta is worsening.”

“In the enclave, (five terrorist) groups (including) Jayish al Islam, Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, Failak Ar-Rahman and Fajr al-Umma have created a joint center for coordinating the actions of the groups,” adding:

Despite adoption of SC Res. 2401 on Saturday, their hostilities continue unabated.

Russia’s reconciliation center issued a warning, saying “data at our disposal indicates the leaders of militant units are preparing a provocation that will involve the utilization of chemical weapons in order to accuse the government forces of deploying chemical weapons against peaceful civilians.”

On the same day, US-led terror-bombing continued in northern Syria – on the phony pretext of combating the ISIS which Washington created and supports.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Deir Ezzor province al-Shaafa and Dharat Allouni villages were struck, killing at least 29 civilians, injuring others.

Eastern Ghouta is a 60-square mile enclave in the Damascus countryside, the last major terrorist-occupied stronghold – why liberating it is a key strategic objective.

On Sunday, thousands of Syrian forces, including elite Tiger troops, launched Operation Damascus Shield.

Aided by government and Russian airpower, it’s a long-awaited offensive to liberate Eastern Ghouta from US-supported terrorists – an operation likely to take weeks, maybe months to regain control over the strategic enclave.

Separately, Turkish forces continue aggression in Afrin – in violation of SC Res. 2401.

SANA said its warplanes terror-bombed Jandires and Rajo towns in Afrin’s Western countryside, “causing massive destruction to houses.”

Turkish and allied forces are blocking humanitarian aid from reaching civilians in affected areas.

Since Ankara operations began in northern Syria’s Afrin district on January 20, hundreds of civilians in harm’s way were killed, many others injured and/or displaced.

SC Res. 2401 changed nothing on the ground. War continues raging because Washington, its rogue allies, and terrorist foot soldiers want regime change and destruction of Syrian sovereignty.

They oppose restoring peace and stability to the country and its long-suffering people – victims of US imperial ruthlessness.

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Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the CRG, Correspondent of Global Research based in Chicago.