Syrian government

The Russian defence ministry said the Syrian regime flag was flying Thursday in the town of Douma, signalling that government forces had taken full control over Eastern Ghouta, AFP reported.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Wednesday for action to be taken against Syria, as the UK, the US and numerous allies signalled they are gearing up for a military strike against the Assad regime following a chemical attack in Douma, writes The Daily Express.

BEIRUT (AP) — The Latest on the Syria conflict (all times local):

2:50 p.m.

Russia's Foreign Ministry says the "smart" missiles that U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to send to Syria will destroy evidence of a suspected chemical weapons attack.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Russia expects Turkey to bring the strategic northern Syrian town of Afrin, previously held by the People's Defense Units (YPG), under the control of the Syrian government.

Thousands of people departed eastern Ghouta for Syrian rebel territory near the Turkish border on March 27, the third group to leave under a deal brokered by Russia to surrender the enclave near Damascus to the Syrian government.

At least 34 people, including 17 children, were killed in an air strike in the town of Harem in the northwest Syrian province of Idlib today, the Syrian Human Rights Watch said.

Seventeen civilians - 15 children and two women - were killed and more than 50 people were injured in an air strike in the Syrian insurgency enclave near the capital, Damascus Eastern Ghouta, the France press and Reuters reported, referring to the Syrian Human Rights Watch.

Some rebels in eastern Ghouta may soon agree to withdraw from the opposition enclave or accept rule by the Syrian state after big advances by the army into the area, a Syrian government minister said on March 19.

The Turkish intelligence agency is undergoing efforts to remove radical groups from Eastern Ghouta through communication with moderate opposition groups in the field, in order to end the regime’s attacks on civilians in the last rebel stronghold that has been under siege by the Syrian government since 2013, according to sources.

An all-women international convoy started its three-day journey in Istanbul on March 6 to raise awareness of the suffering of women and young girls imprisoned by the Syrian government.