Damascus offensive ( 2013 ) The Damascus offensive ( 2013 ) refers to a series of rebel operations that began in early February 2013 in and around the city of Damascus . On 6 February , rebel forces launched an offensive , named " Battle of Armageddon " , on the edge of Central Damascus , with rebels entering the Jobar District of Damascus after overunning a Syrian Army road block . Parts of the Damascus ring road which acts as a barrier between Central Damascus and Ghouta were also seized by rebel fighters . Rebels have also launched attacks on Adra , north east of Damascus . On 10 February , a rebel claimed that opposition forces had captured another military checkpoint in the Jobar district . However , Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that while fighting for the highway continued , government troops regained control of the area after bombing rebel positions the day before . On 19 February , rebels began moving truckloads of anti aircraft weapons into Jobar in an effort to consolidate advances made in the Eastern Damascus district . On 20 February , a SCUD missile , fired by government forces , hit the command center of the islamist militia Liwa Al - Islam near Douma , which had been spearheading the attack against the roundabout and the Jobar district . Sheikh Zahran Alloush , the commander and founder of the brigade , had been wounded in the strike . The area was devastated and other rebel fighters were also killed or wounded . On 21 February , rebels launched 3 car bombings on security targets in the Barzeh neighbourhood in Damascus . Also fired several mortar rounds at the Syrian army ' s general staff headquarters in Umayyad Square , as well as other streets and squares known to house government and security offices , according to residents and activists . SOHR claimed that 22 people , mostly soldiers , were killed in these other attacks . On 27 February , SOHR claimed that rebels had fired several mortar shells which exploded in the military Judiciary and literature department of the University of Damascus . On 2 March , heavy fighting was reported in Darayya between rebels and the Syrian Army . The Local Coordination Committees of Syria claimed that rebels targeted a military column attempting to storm Darayya , and also defended several attempts by the government to storm Jobar . On 3 March , rebels reportedly fired several rockets at security forces headquarters in Damascus , though its unknown if there were any casualties . On 12 March , 30 military deserters were killed in an Army ambush near Damascus while they were heading towards the rebel - held Eastern Ghouta area . On 18 March , rebels operating within Damascus launched mortar bombs at the Damascus Presidential Palace , though its unclear if there were any casualties . On 21 March , an explosion in the Iman Mosque in Al - Mazraa district killed as much as 41 people , including Sunni cleric , Sheikh Mohammed al - Buti . Al - Buti was one of the most prominent supporters of the Syrian government from the Sunni branch of Islam in Syria . Syrian State TV claimed the explosion was a suicide bombing , though some residents claim it was caused by a mortar bomb that struck a nearby political office . On 25 March , rebels launched one of their heaviest bombardments of Central Damascus since the revolt began , with mortars reportedly hitting Umayyad Square , where Baath Party headquarters , Air Force Intelligence and state television are also located . The attack was launched when rebel forces advanced into the Kafr Souseh district of Damascus , and the Syrian Army retaliated with artillery launched from Mount Qasioun .