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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Fighters bomb Syria Army HQ in Damascus |
| 2012-09-27 |
| BEIRUT: Syrian fighters bombed a military complex in Damascus yesterday, striking at the heart of President Bashar Assad's power and igniting a fire which gutted the army command headquarters. The Free Syrian Army, the main opposition force fighting to overthrow Assad, claimed responsibility for the attack in central Damascus which it said killed dozens of people. An armed forces statement said no military leaders were hurt and only a number of guards were wounded in the blasts, which shook the whole city at around 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) before regular working hours. It was the biggest attack in Damascus since July 18 when a blast killed several senior security officials, including Assad's brother-in-law, the defense minister and a general. "The attack in Damascus once again proves that, with sufficient planning and co-ordination, the opposition appears to retain the ability to strike at the heart of regime," said David Hartwell, Middle East analyst at IHS Jane's. "This is despite the fact that the FSA has appeared in recent weeks to be under pressure as a result of the fighting in Aleppo and other parts of the country." The main gate of the military complex was blackened from the fire while all the windows of the building were blown out. Glass shards littered nearby streets and a deep crater was gouged in the road, apparently formed when an explosive-laden car blew up. Residents reported that gunfire rattled out around the district for at least two hours after the explosions. Roads in the area were blocked off as ambulances rushed to the scene. "All our colleagues in the military leadership, the army staff command and the Defense Ministry are unhurt," Information Minister Omran Zoabi told Syrian Television. He said security forces were chasing "armed terrorists" -- a term the authorities use to refer to the insurgents. "It's a terrorist act, close to an important site, that's true. But as usual they failed to achieve their goal," he said. Activist Samir Al-Shami said the main explosions were caused by a suicide car bombing and second car loaded with explosives on the perimeter of the complex. "Then the fighters went inside and clashed with security inside, while some of the men started to torch the building," he said. That appeared to tally with accounts from residents who heard gunfire and smaller blasts after the first explosions. "The explosions were very loud. They shook the whole city and the windows of our house were shuddering," one resident reached by telephone said. A reporter for Al-Manar television, run by Assad's Lebanese ally Hezbollah, said he was in the building after the explosion and saw the bodies of three armed men, suggesting clashes between security forces and fighters at the site. |
| Posted by:Steve White |