Fresh mortar attacks kill 2 in Damascus

Two people were killed and four others wounded Sunday when mortar attacks slammed southern districts of the Syrian capital of Damascus, the state-run SANA news agency reported. The mortars landed near two schools in al-Qassa and Dweila districts and a bus station in Al-Abbasyeen area, said SANA, adding that a school teacher was among the injured. SANA spelled no details about injures among the schoolchildren. Last week, four schoolchildren were killed when a mortar shell struck their minibus in Bab Sharqi district, close to al-Qassa. The rebels have opted for indiscriminate mortar attacks against several districts of the capital, particularly the southern and eastern parts as they are close to the rebel-held areas of Jobar, Mlaiha and Douma. The Syrian troops have resorted to a new military tactic to force the rebels to surrender, besieging the rebel-held areas and block the entry or exit until their resources dry up. The tactic seems to have succeeded in some areas as around 17 rebels from the Mlaiha suburb reportedly surrendered to the authorities on Sunday.