Syria's bloody civil war arrives in Damascus

Warning: this report contains graphic content

Syria's bloody civil war has arrived in Damascus, as rebels and pro-government forces wage fierce battles in the city's suburban areas.

A Radio-Canada crew travelled to Damascus and into the neighbourhoods where the Al-Nursa Front and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are in daily conflict.

Reporters saw torched homes and businesses, and civilians told of threats, rapes, killings and kidnappings committed by opposition forces.

Pro-regime militias made up of armed locals in uniform have fought back against Syrian coalition forces, with mixed results, Radio-Canada reports.

But international human rights groups accuse similar militias in other cities of committing summary executions in contested Syrian cities like Homs and Houla.

And as the fight for Damascus intensifies, the more likely it will be that Syrian citizens will be caught in the crossfire.