Syrian government forces and allied militias gained ground on Wednesday in clashes with rebels in eastern Ghouta near Damascus as fighting raged despite a Russian ceasefire plan, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

Mouawiya Syasneh said in a new interview that while he regrets so many people have died, "Without revolution there can be no progress."

A frantic effort is underway to evacuate a set of conjoined newborn twins from war-torn Syria so they can receive proper medical care.