A rebel alliance claimed the capture of the biggest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral-rich eastern region this week, pushing back against resistance from government troops backed by regional and UN intervention forces.

Fierce fighting rages on in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma, as rebels and the army exchange fire. "All we can hear [are] gunshots around the city," one Goma resident, who has been trapped in his house since the weekend, told the BBC.

Thousands fled the city of Goma on Monday as fighting raged between Congolese forces and rebels backed by neighboring Rwanda, who claimed to have captured eastern Congo’s largest regional hub.

Residents of the besieged city of Goma, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, say they are gripped by fear as gunshots continue to ring out around their homes, days after rebel forces claimed they had taken over.

Residents in eastern Congo’s largest city of Goma are fleeing after Rwanda-backed rebels claimed to have captured the regional hub from Congolese forces.

Rebels appear to be edging closer to taking control of the key city of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo following reports that they had captured its airport. The Congolese government has insisted that it is still in charge as fighting in parts of the city continues.

In our news wrap Tuesday, a rebel group backed by Rwanda has claimed the critical Congo city of Goma, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at limiting gender transition for anyone under the age of 19 and Oklahoma's Board of Education voted unanimously to require parents to provide proof of their child's immigration status when enrolling them in public schools.

Diplomatic missions, including the French Embassy, were targeted in Congo’s capital as violence escalates with a rebel offensive in eastern Goma. The attacks reflect growing instability and tensions between armed groups and the government in the region.