Syria suicide blasts kill 20 troops
Source: Agencies |
November 11, 2012, Sunday
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TWIN suicide bombings shook a southern Syrian city yesterday, killing at least 20 regime troops, an activist group said.
The early morning blasts in Daraa targeted an encampment for government forces in the city, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on activists on the ground.
The explosions were followed by clashes between regime forces and rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad, said the Observatory. Its chief, Rami Abdul-Rahman, said at least 20 soldiers were killed in the blasts but the claim could not be independently verified.
The state-run news agency SANA said the explosions caused multiple casualties and heavy material damage, but did not provide further details.
Daraa was the birthplace of the uprising against Assad, which erupted in March 2011.
The crisis has since morphed into a vicious civil war and in recent months, rebels have driven regime forces out of much of a pocket of northwestern Syria and are battling in key cities and towns.
"I heard two very loud explosions and a third smaller one followed by bursts of gunfire," said Mohammad Abu Houran, an activist in Daraa.
Abu Houran said black smoke could be seen over the high-security area, which was sealed off. Heavy shooting could be heard from the area for about 10 minutes after the explosions, he added.
The targeted area houses a branch of the country's Military Intelligence as well as an officer's club. Around 30 tanks that regime forces use to shell Daraa are stationed in a nearby stadium, activists said.
Bombings targeting state security institutions have become frequent in recent months.
Despite gaining control over large swathes of territory, Syria's rebels are outgunned by the military, which has increasingly relied on airstrikes.
Activists say more than 36,000 people have died in the near 20-month conflict.
The early morning blasts in Daraa targeted an encampment for government forces in the city, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on activists on the ground.
The explosions were followed by clashes between regime forces and rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad, said the Observatory. Its chief, Rami Abdul-Rahman, said at least 20 soldiers were killed in the blasts but the claim could not be independently verified.
The state-run news agency SANA said the explosions caused multiple casualties and heavy material damage, but did not provide further details.
Daraa was the birthplace of the uprising against Assad, which erupted in March 2011.
The crisis has since morphed into a vicious civil war and in recent months, rebels have driven regime forces out of much of a pocket of northwestern Syria and are battling in key cities and towns.
"I heard two very loud explosions and a third smaller one followed by bursts of gunfire," said Mohammad Abu Houran, an activist in Daraa.
Abu Houran said black smoke could be seen over the high-security area, which was sealed off. Heavy shooting could be heard from the area for about 10 minutes after the explosions, he added.
The targeted area houses a branch of the country's Military Intelligence as well as an officer's club. Around 30 tanks that regime forces use to shell Daraa are stationed in a nearby stadium, activists said.
Bombings targeting state security institutions have become frequent in recent months.
Despite gaining control over large swathes of territory, Syria's rebels are outgunned by the military, which has increasingly relied on airstrikes.
Activists say more than 36,000 people have died in the near 20-month conflict.
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