Syrian government forces have taken full control of the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, in a major victory for President Bashar al-Assad. The capture of Eastern Ghouta followed a Russian-brokered deal that saw the last remaining rebel fighters granted safe passage to a rebel-held area in northern Syria. Human rights groups estimate some 1,700 civilians were killed in heavy fighting, after Syrian forces—backed by Russia—launched an offensive on Eastern Ghouta in February. The United Nations says at least 100,000 people in Douma remain low on food, water and medicine and are in desperate need of help.