Power cuts and empty shelves in Damascus

Syrian journalist Harun al-Aswad has been speaking to his sources in Damascus.

Two residents of the capital told him that there has been no electricity since the dawn prayers around 6am.

People are rushing to the markets to buy food, and most of the markets have been emptied, he was told.

Sources in Damascus told Harun that Syrian government forces have launched a large-scale arrest campaign, rounding up young men to send to the front lines. Most men are staying at home to avoid tensions.

Sources from the western suburbs, about 5 km from Damascus city centre, told him that security forces have withdrawn from police stations, government departments and military checkpoints.

They say that the map of control around the capital is almost back to the state it was in around 2015.