Syrian rebel groups have launched a second surprise offensive in east Damascus, a day after government forces said they had recovered areas near the capital lost over the weekend.

The latest attack began at dawn on Tuesday with an explosion near the Jobar and Qaboun neighbourhoods, where a surprise rebel attack briefly overwhelmed regime forces on the weekend.

Rebels from Jobrar managed to briefly open a corridor to Qaboun, a besieged opposition-held district, in a lightning offensive on Sunday. They were beaten back by heavy airstrikes, and on Monday night the Syrian government announced it had retaken all territory temporarily lost.