At least five people, including two children, have been killed and dozens injured in a mortar attack in the Syrian capital Damascus.Police said the mortar shells struck the neighborhoods of Amara, Qassa and Abassiyeen on Tuesday, Syrias official news agency SANA reported.
"Two mortar shells fell on the commercial shops in Bab al-Salam in al-Qassa, leading to the martyrdom of five citizens and the injury of 30 others," a police official said.
The shells also hit a church and homes near the commercial center, wounding 30 more, among them two children.
A recent British defense study shows that about 100,000 foreign-backed militants, fragmented into 1,000 groups, are fighting in Syria against the government and people.
The extracts of the study by defense consultancy IHS Jane's were published on Monday.
IHS Jane's estimates that some 10,000 militants are fighting for groups affiliated with al-Qaeda such as al-Nusra Front and the rest fight for different militant groups.
The analysis also said that a large number of extremists from foreign countries are also active in Syria.
Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.
According to the UN, more than 100,000 people have been killed and a total of 7.8 million of others displaced due to the violence.
By Press TV
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