Shelling hits Syrian towns as ceasefire breaks down

AUGUST 15, 2015 : ALJAZEERA
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Shelling has resumed in two government-held villages in
northwest Syria and the rebel-controlled town of Zabadani near
Damascus, state media and a monitoring group have said, as a
ceasefire covering the areas collapsed.
The violence on Saturday came following reports that talks
aimed at extending a truce that began on Wednesday have
collapsed.
Abu Jaber al-Sheikh, spokesman of Ahrar al-Sham rebel group,
confirmed to Al Jazeera that negotiations are over.
Syrian situation worsens, says UN humanitarian chief He
blamed the Syrian government and Iran for the collapse of the
negotiations, claiming that pro-government negotiators have
demanded that rebels as well as civilians leave Zabadani.
Syrian state television said a child and her father had been killed
and 12 others wounded in “terrorist shelling” on the regime-held
villages of Fuaa and Kafraya in Idlib province.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based
monitor, said rebels had fired about 20 missiles at the two
villages and also reported shelling on the rebel-held town of
Zabadani.
In Fuaa, a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity
confirmed the bombardment.
“Today we’ve been hearing the sound of explosions since
dawn,” the resident said. “The truce failed and the attacks have
resumed.”
The truce agreement between rebel groups and pro-regime
factions, including Lebanon’s Shia Hezbollah group, came into
effect in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Before its expiry on Saturday morning, intensive negotiations
had been under way for an extension of the ceasefire and a full
deal.