Thousands of Syrian civilians have finally been allowed to leave the besieged Damascus suburb of Muadhamiya.

The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who was at the scene, describes a tide of desperate people leaving the area, which has been closed off since March.

Supplies in Muadhamiya had been running desperately short, and residents had pleaded to be saved from starvation.

The exodus of civilians has been made possible by an apparent relaxation of a blockade by government forces.

The Syrian army had previously said that rebel-held areas of Damascus such as Muadhamiya could surrender or starve.

At least three of Damascus's suburbs - Yarmouk, Eastern Ghouta and Muadhamiya - have been besieged by government forces for several months.

The situation has become so desperate that earlier this month Muslim clerics issued a religious ruling allowing people to eat cats, dogs and donkeys just to survive.

Those animals are usually considered unfit for human consumption in Islam.

all above from - www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24730536

Reports coming in of Israeli attack on Syria.

Some reports say attack at military base others say Russian convoy attacked.

The impasse will lead to a wider war - esp as the Syrian "government" is weak and now controls little of the country