Gun Battles Rage After Attack on Syrian Officials

Posted July 18th, 2012 at 11:20 am (UTC-5)
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Gun battles are raging between Syrian forces and rebels in several neighborhoods of Damascus after a bomb killed three members of President Bashar al-Assad's government Wednesday in a high-level meeting.

Syrian state television says a bomb struck the National Security building in Damascus, killing Defense Minister Daoud Rajha and Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat, brother-in-law to President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian General Hassan Turkmani, a former defense minister, is also reported to have died of injuries from the bombing.

Middle East expert Elliott Abrams, of the Council on Foreign Relations, says this attack could signal the beginning of the end for Assad's government.

“I think this does shake the regime and suggest to everybody in it that really the handwriting is on the wall and that they are going to fall.”

The rebel Free Syrian Army has claimed responsibility for the bombing. Reuters news agency reports the rebel group Liwa al-Islam also claimed responsibility.

The Syrian military has vowed to “continue fighting terrorism” and has named Armed Forces Chief of Staff Fahed al- Jasem el-Freij as the new defense minister.