Shit hits the fan in Damascus

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-04-27 03:25pm

At around 1400 EST the Beeb started reporting explosions - up to 15 - in and around the diplomatic quarter in Damascus. At about 1420 EST FoxNews confirms an official Syrian report that Syrian internal Security troops are 'battling terrorists' in Damascus.

EDIT 1430 EST: FNC talking head suggests that the Muslim Brotherhood - which Papa Assad all but wiped out years ago - may have hooked up with Al-Q and has made a comeback.

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Syrian Forces Clash With 'Terrorist Band'
By ALBERT AJI, Associated Press Writer

DAMASCUS, Syria - Syrian security forces clashed with a "terrorist band" late Tuesday in Damascus, Syrian television reported. Explosions and gunfire were heard in a neighborhood where foreign diplomats live and work. There was no immediate word on casualties.

Syrian television, in a brief statement, said the "terrorist band" opened fire indiscriminately. Security forces gave chase and were in control of the situation. It gave no other details.

Resident of the area had reported explosions and gunfire in the Mazza neighborhood.

Al-Jazeera reported that car bombs were used in the attack and that heavy exchanges of gunfire were continuing late into the night.

Al-Arabiya quoted a witness saying more than 15 explosions were heard.

Security forces sealed off the area, said the residents.

The Canadian Embassy, the Iranian Embassy and the home of the British ambassador are in Mazza.

In London, a British Foreign Office official said an explosion and shooting was heard near the Iranian ambassador's residence and in the vicinity of the British ambassador's residence.

"At the moment, there are no injuries to U.K. Embassy staff. Our staff are in the process of assessing the situation," the Foreign Office official said on condition of anonymity.

Syrian political analyst Imad Shuaibi told Al-Jazeera that Syrian police killed one attacker and the second was taken to a hospital unconscious.

Shuaibi said electricity was cut off in the area where the explosions took place close to the Saudi consulate, the British ambassador's residence and the Iranian Embassy.

Syria has been on the U.S. State Department's list of terror-sponsoring nations for its support of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah that attack Israel. Syria, though, says the anti-Israeli groups are not terrorist, and that it has an interest in fighting Islamic extremist groups like al-Qaida.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Syria's hard-line government fought a fierce war with Islamic fundamentalists of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was blamed for a 1980 assassination attempt on President Hafez Assad, the country's authoritarian leader. Assad was succeeded by his son, Bashar Assad, after his death of natural causes in 2000.

Assad suffered minor injuries after gunmen open fire with automatic weapons and grenades in the 1980 attack.

Syrian special forces troops massacred some 1,000 Muslim Brotherhood members in Tadmur Military Prison near Palmyra to avenge the assassination attempt.

In 1982, the Muslim Brotherhood staged a rebellion in the northern province of Hama. During the clashes, Syrian forces razed much of the city, killing as many as 10,000 people and finally crushing the Brotherhood after five-year war.[/i]

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-04-27 03:28pm

Shit, this sucks. I hope the people aren't suffering too much.

Any bets on how long it will take for this to get labeled as a Zionist plot?

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-04-27 03:28pm

I think now the whole Middle East is preparing WWIII

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-04-27 03:37pm

Shit....I have several friends from Damascus. All their families are over there...ALL of them. I do hope they are all okay. I have several convienence stores to visit after work today....(YEs, they ALL work at convienience stores)

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-04-27 03:38pm

What's the source?

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-04-27 03:39pm

Given the focus on the British ambassador, I'd think BBC, but it'd be nice to have a link...

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2004-04-27 03:44pm

Rogue 9 wrote:What's the source?

The Beeb = BBC

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-04-27 03:45pm

Right then, lets have that link.

TheDarkling · Post by **TheDarkling** » 2004-04-27 04:04pm

Rogue 9 wrote:Right then, lets have that link.

Hardly hidden away

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-04-27 04:05pm

ENJOY

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-04-27 04:08pm

Rogue 9 wrote:Right then, lets have that link.

It says AP in the title of the article. I'd call it credible.

Tribun · Post by **Tribun** » 2004-04-27 04:11pm

Well ,the terrorist will have nothing to laugh, when the "Syrian Special Forces" will arrive to take them apart. These guys are really tough, and trained to deal with such threats.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-04-27 04:34pm

From correspondents in Damascus
28apr04

A BUILDING which houses UN offices in the Syrian capital was on fire after three explosions were heard here late today, an AFP journalist said.

The explosions rocked the Mazzeh district of western Damascus that houses several embassies as well as the UN offices.

One of the blasts went off near a shopping mall, residents said.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-04-27 04:35pm

Tribun wrote:These guys are really tough, and trained to deal with such threats.

I wouldn't call Syrians or any of the other Arab Special Forces "Tough"

About all they do better than us is the toenail pulling and eyeball popping
bit on helpless suspects to get information.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-04-27 04:45pm

Chardok wrote:
Rogue 9 wrote:Right then, lets have that link.
It says AP in the title of the article. I'd call it credible.

I didn't say it wasn't credible. I just like having the original source for linkage purposes elsewhere.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-04-27 04:53pm

From FR:

I'm now hearing that the attack was launched against the Canadian Embassy, the Saudi Embassy, and the British ambassador's residence. Multiple bombs and gunfire.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-04-27 05:17pm

MKSheppard wrote:
Tribun wrote:These guys are really tough, and trained to deal with such threats.
I wouldn't call Syrians or any of the other Arab Special Forces "Tough"

About all they do better than us is the toenail pulling and eyeball popping
bit on helpless suspects to get information.

Syria is one of those nations where the special forces run around in brigade strength, you could certainly call them tough but when it comes to training and weapons and tactics there really just good infantry, as compared to the overall poor quality of the nations military. Really highly trained Special Forces really just aren't compatible with dictatorships, even if the resources and expertise to create such troops is available to coup risk they present is too great.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-04-28 12:38am

Wait. These are the fuckers from Hama?!? Assad's gonna grind up their bones, fry them in lard, and piss on 'em. Just like what his dad did to Hama...

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2004-04-28 01:25am

Montcalm wrote: I think now the whole Middle East is preparing WWIII

More like "don't step too far out of line the US sets or we'll be forced to break out the carpet bombers".

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2004-04-28 01:29am

And Iran is testing nuclear weapons in the meanwhile.