BEIRUT: At least 15 civilians, including six children, were killed on Thursday in airstrikes and artillery fire on rebel-held territory near Syria’s capital Damascus, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was not immediately possible to determine where the strikes on the Eastern Ghouta region were carried out by the Syrian regime or its ally Russia. Eastern Ghouta has long been a rebel stronghold, and is regularly targeted by government airstrikes and artillery fire.