MUCH_LOVE_NEEDED_SYRIA

Thousands of civilians have fled advances by Syrian government forces in eastern Ghouta over the last two days, a war monitor and a resident said, as Damascus makes rapid gains in a fierce assault against the last major rebel enclave near the capital.

Government forces need to advance just a few more kilometres further to split the enclave in two, said a commander in the military alliance that backs President Bashar al-Assad.