Shi'ite fighters, who support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, search for rebels from house to house in the countryside near DamascusBy using Erika Solomon BEIRUT (Reuters) – Fierce preventing to the east of Damascus has killed greater than one hundred sixty folks up to now two days as Syrian rebels fight to break a months-lengthy blockade with the aid of forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, activists stated on Sunday. It commenced on Friday when rebellion units attacked a string of defense force checkpoints encircling the opposition-held suburbs in a local known as Japanese Ghouta, which has been under siege for more than six months. The struggle has additionally drawn in a whole lot of foreign fighters on either side, underlining how Syria's civil conflict has stirred Sunni-Shi'ite sectarian tensions throughout the area. The warfare in Syria has killed more than one hundred,000 folks, according to the United Countries, and can be destabilizing Syria's neighbors.