Syria: Senior Officials Killed In Bomb Blasts As Fighting Escalates

Photograph courtesy of Syria Revolution in Photos

In what may be a significant turning point in the ongoing civil war in Syria, a number of senior Syrian officials in the Assad regime have been killed in a suspected suicide attack in the capital city of Damascus.

According to state TV, Syria’s Defence Minister Daoud Rajiha, his deputy, President Assad’s brother-in-law Assef Shawkat, Head of the National Security Council Hisham Bakhtyar, Syrian Assistant Vice-President Hassan Turkmani, and Hafez Makhlouf, Assad’s cousin and head of the interrogation branch in General Intelligence, were killed in the attack at the National Security Building in the Radwa district of central Damascus at around 09.:45 GMT. Many others were also killed, and many more injured, notably the Minister of the Interior Mohammad Sha’ar.

State media are reporting that the attack was carried out by the bodyguard of Minister of Defense Dawoud Rajha in a suicide attack. However, Riad al-Asaad, commander of the Free Syrian Army, has claimed responsibility in a phone interview earlier today from his base in Turkey, claimed all those who took part in the operation are safe and it was not a suicide attack. He claimed the attack was

The beginning of the end for the regime

Another source backed up that statement and said it was triggered by remote control in a joint operation planned months prior by Al Sahaba Brigade, Liwa Al Shuhada, Liwa Al Sham Al Ahra, under the FSA umbrella

Deputy Head of FSA tells me an explosive device triggered by remote control was used for blast in Damascus not a suicide bomber as reported

— Mohamed Fadel Fahmy (@Repent11) July 18, 2012

Deputy head of FSA tells me Damascus bombing was joint operation by Al Sahaba Brigade, Liwa Al Shuhada, Liwa Al Sham Al Ahra, FSA umbrella

— Mohamed Fadel Fahmy (@Repent11) July 18, 2012

In response, the Syrian information minister said in a report on Al-Jazeera

This is the final battle…they have underestimated the Syrian Army

And unconfirmed video has appeared online claiming to show smoke billowing over Damascus from the explosion

Further reports are appearing of a number of blasts at the military headquarters of the 4th Division, a greatly feared division of the Syrian military that protects the presidential palace, which is headed by Maher al-Assad, the brother of President Bashar al-Assad. These bomb blasts were reportedly set by defected soldiers.

Deputy Head FSA tells me 4th Division explosions cause by defected soldiers, against Assad' elite force/ongoing gun battle continues!

— Mohamed Fadel Fahmy (@Repent11) July 18, 2012

There are rumours that the Syrian military has withdrawn its tanks and soldiers from the Midan district, and are now actively shelling the district. If true this would show an increasing momentum gained by the Free Syrian Army within Damascus, with the Military now falling back to protect the pro-Assad strongholds in the city.

There is heavy gunfire in the Saqba district of Damscus as shown in the video below:

There are reports of government troops shelling various areas in and around Damascus including refugee camps where some Syrian people have fled to try and find protection

Al Jazeera are showing pictures live-streamed from the Free Syrian Army that show thousands of people on the streets in areas of Damascus celebrating the death of the high profile pro-Assad figures and continued successes in the ongoing gun battles.

It is very difficult to confirm these rumours now, but the reports are escalating that chemical weapons are about to be used in the conflict. Syria has substantial stores of chemical weapons such as Sarin gas, and they were moved from storage for better accessibility a few days ago. If used, the death toll will rise quickly, but as may the defections.

#FSA spokesman says #Assad regime is giving gas masks to his elite 4th brigade and republican guards. #Syria via @AJArabic

— Freedom For Syria (@HouriaWaBas) July 18, 2012

#Syria Urgent Retweet getting intl that Assad Regime haning out 1000s of Gas masks to Elite units and Security forces in #Damascus #Chemical

— Free Syria Media Hub (@Free_Media_Hub) July 18, 2012

There have been a large number of defections today from the Syrian military today, possibly in response to the change in momentum of the ongoing conflict

Breaking News: Defection of 2,500+ soldiers in Idlib with all their weaponry to the Free Syrian Army! via @SyriaDayofRage. #AssadCountDown

— Nora Basha (@Nora0315) July 18, 2012

More than 100 Syrian regime soldiers defected in Homs, Al-Jazeera reported

— NOW Syria (@NOW_Syria) July 18, 2012

Anna Neistat, associate director for the Emergencies division at Human Rights Watch, has reaffirmed the position of HRW, saying that for peace to succeed in Syria

President Putin should heed Annan’s call, stop arming the Syrian military, and make clear to the government that there will be severe consequences for continued assaults on unarmed civilians.

Some supporters of the Free Syrian Army do not share that view, however, and believe that any future involvement from the international community at this point is simply external forces trying to secure their interests

https://twitter.com/Liiz12_/status/225570095886368768

No the world DOES NOT need to act now,they had their chance. Today's events have made it crystal clear we dont need anyone but ourselves.

— Jana Nahhas (@SYRIAslyJana) July 18, 2012

This article is live and be updated as events unfold. Much of the information is as yet unconfirmed.

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Sources:
Local Coordination Committees of Syria
Hama English News
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Yalla Souriya
Enduring America