In a Syrian government-led offensive targeting rebel-held areas, nearly two dozen civilians have been killed just outside of Damascus. UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the air strikes on Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of the Syrian capital, killed at least 23 people yesterday. <br/><br/>The Observatory said at least 70 people were also wounded in the attacks, which the group said were carried out by Syrian forces and their Russian allies. <br/><br/>Of those killed, at least nine civilians, including two children, were killed in an air strike on a market in the town of Beit Sawa, while another six civilians, including one child, were killed in the town of Hazzeh, AFP news agency reported.<br/><br/>Syrian state media also said shelling on the Old City of Damascus, which is held by the government, killed one woman and wounded three other civilians. Eastern Ghouta is the last remaining rebel-held stronghold near Damascus and has been under a government siege since 2013.<br/><br/>