Syrian rights activists say government warplanes have bombed a rebel-held area on the southern outskirts of Damascus, killing seven people, including five members of one family.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the air strike targeted the village of al-Barika on Sunday. It said a couple and three of their children were among the dead.

Government troops also battled rebels in several areas east of Damascus.

Rebels trying to end the 12-year rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have seized large parts of northern Syria and established footholds in suburbs near Damascus since an uprising began in 2011. But, the insurgents have been unable to advance on the Mr. Assad's seat of authority in the capital because of superior government firepower. Pro-Assad forces regularly hit the more lightly-armed rebels with air and artillery strikes.