Syrian forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad hit eastern districts of Damascus on Tuesday with mortar bombs, artillery and air strikes, opposition activists said.

The assault was focused on Zamalka and Irbin, on the edge of the regime-controlled centre of the capital, according to the pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

"The areas of Irbin and Zamalka were exposed to bombings by regular forces, mortar bombs and heavy artillery," the British-based Syrian Observatory said. It said there were reports of casualties from air raids, but gave no details.

The opposition forces say their prospects for reversing Assad's gains in Damascus may now hinge on military support from Western and Arab backers. The United States announced unspecified military aid this month.
More than 93,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict, which began as a popular anti-Assad protest movement.

Nearly 1.7 million refugees have fled into neighboring countries, including Lebanon, where clashes between armed groups supporting opposing sides in Syria have fuelled fears of a lapse back into sectarian war.

Lebanon is still struggling to heal the wounds of its 1975-90 civil war.

PHOTO CAPTION

A civilian walks on rubble as he inspects the damage after what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Arbaeen, near Damascus, May 23, 2013.

Agencies