The Syrian army has reportedly fired on rebels in the town of Mesraba in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region. An army official told State TV on Wednesday that civilians would be able to leave the enclave very soon. The station added that the attack was preparatory fire to secure the entry of infantry units. A UK-based monitoring group said at least 700 fighters from pro-Syrian government militias had arrived on the frontlines of eastern Ghouta. It added that government forces had seized nearly half of the enclave in recent days.