A war at close quarters with every junction deadly

Bill Neely

Former International Editor

Assad fighters are in street battles with rebels, awaiting a US attack. Credit: ITV News

The fierce battles continue in the suburbs of Damascus and I witnessed heavy exchanges and snipers in buildings. The war is intense.

Assad fighters are in street battles with rebels, awaiting a US attack, but they tell me: "We are ready and we will fight".

They expect the rebels to attack once American missiles fall. They say that "they'll take their chance and we'll take their lives."

It is hard to believe the scale of destruction in many Damascus suburbs. It looks like pictures of Stalingrad. No building is untouched and most are destroyed.