Several killed as rebels barrage Damascus with rockets

At least three people died and 30 were injured in a heavy rebel rocket and mortar barrage of the capital Damascus on Thursday, the Syrian state news agency said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 38 rockets were fired on Damascus Thursday, adding that a number of people were wounded.

The Local Coordination Committees in Syria reported that at least 15 people were killed or wounded in Damascus and its suburbs as nearly 50 rockets struck the city.

Thursday’s early morning salvo came after Army of Islam leader Zahran Alloush warned he would shower the capital with mortar shells to avenge government airstrikes on nearby rebel-held suburbs over the past week.

The group warned residents to stay indoors.

Alloush said on Twitter that Damascus would become a “security zone” as of Wednesday and until further notice.

The shelling on Thursday hit several upscale districts, including al-Malki, Abu Rummanah, Kfar Sousseh and Mazzeh.