Damascus blast kills at least 17

BBC ^ | 06:35 GMT, Saturday, 27 September 2008

[james500]

At least 17 people been killed by a suspected car bomb in the Syrian capital Damascus, say local media reports.

...

Syria's Dunia television said the explosion had targeted a security forces installation.

[TDT]

Those damn Amish again.

[IMissPresidentReagan]

Prayers out to the families affected by these cold and evil b*stards. May they find the solace and comfort they need to deal with the pain this senseless tragedy has wrought.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Are we REALLY sure we want Obammie as the Commander in Chief?

[Steel Wolf]

That *is* interesting.

Targeting the Syrian security forces is dangerous business. I wonder who would take such a risk?

[BlackVeil]

I wonder is this linked to the build-up of Syrian troops on the Lebanese border, noticed last week.

[maquiladora]

Syrian TV: Damascus car bomb kills 17

By Reuters

A car bomb exploded in the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday, killing 17 people and wounding 14, Syrian state television reported.

The car was rigged with some 200 kg of explosives, the television said.

It was the first explosion in Syria since the car bomb assassination of Imad Mughniyah, military commander of the Islamist group Hezbollah, in February.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1024836.html

[james500]

Syria’s a hot spot, ain’t it? This was printed yesterday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7638499.stm

A UN inquiry into alleged Syrian nuclear activity has been delayed by the assassination of UN investigators’ top contact in Damascus.

...

Diplomats say the IAEA was dealing with Brig Gen Mohamed Suleiman before he was shot at a beach last month.

[maquiladora]

If this was carried out by some Lebanese nationalist group then I’d expect Syria to repond to this.

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

Syria’s a hot spot

hot spot since the world was created and will be to the end

[maquiladora]

“The bombing is the most deadly single attack to have ever hit Syria”- Al Jazeera

[Shaun_MD]

I'm thinking this might be a Reichstag, long knives kinda moment.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Israel ?

Hezzi ?

Qods ?

Mmmm?

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

I’m thinking this might be a Reichstag, long knives kinda moment.
~~~
Roger Dat!,,,

Russians in port ?

Interesting~mmmmmmmmm!

AQ ?,,,I don’t know,,,

Also,,,Israel could have put a “HIT” on somebody...

[Shaun_MD]

Pretty good excuse to use those 10,000 troops.

[Joe Boucher]

Damascus huh?
Glad to hear that.

[Dog]

I clicked on this wondering who was the target. This just doesn’t happen there....someone wanted someone very dead.

[Dog]

From another article..linked on this thread.

An intelligence building is also located in the area, but cars are not normally allowed to park nearby and it was not clear how close the bombing was to the building. Police sealed off the area, blocking motorists and pedestrians from approaching from where the blast occurred around 8:45 A.M.

The morning commute was underway....someone who works in that building was the target as they passed by maybe.

[maquiladora]

The bomb, which exploded near a secret service facility, was believed to be targeting a senior intelligence official who was in the building at the time, Lebanese media reported.

There were no immediate reports whether this person was killed or injured.

Witnesses in the area, however, said some of the killed were intelligence men in plain clothes who were killed near the secret service headquarters.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/articles/article_1433413.php/Car_bomb_targeted_senior_senior_security_official_-_report__3rd_Lead__

[maquiladora]

The explosion, which injured about 12 others, happened near the headquarters of a special intelligence unit that handles Palestinian security, Syrian officials told CNN.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/09/27/Damascus_car_bomb_kills_at_least_17/UPI-55011222511998/

[Dog]

Didn't I tell you...:-)

I'm getting good at this stuff.

[maquiladora]

Apparently the Sidi Kadad Intelligence Headquarters is responsible for monitoring Palestinians in Syria - could be possible revenge attack by Hamas, hasn’t the Hamas leader in Syria recently been forced to move to Sudan?

[rrrod]

I dont care..........

[omega4179]

Islam is peace damnit!!

[G8 Diplomat]

Man, lots of stuff’s been happening in Syria this year. Mughniyah, Assad’s bro-in-law accused of plotting a coup, Assad’s right-hand man assassinated, troops near Lebanon, car bomb in Damascus....

So, who could it be? Mossad? Hezbollah? The fact that they targeted a security building says it was probably an enemy of Syria who did it; which would rule out Iran’s Quds Force. I don’t think Syria ever truly intended to break away from Iran (that was just PR to the West), so I don’t think this was some kind of hint not too.

I suppose it could’ve been Hezbollah retaliation for Mughniyah’s death, but they rely on Syria for arms and support; they’d be biting the hand that feeds them. But if they’re that stupid, hey, fine by me...

Or maybe it was a move by Lebanon in response to the Syrian troops on their border.

[82ndABNOfficer]

It was reported that it hit near an intelligence post. I’m going to just venture a guess, but I think the Israelis through a surrogate hit this post for whatever reason. Maybe a suspected or wanted terrorist was there or this Intelligence Unit was responsible for crimes against Israelis. I’m wondering if the Israelis used Shiia extremist for this and gave them the funding and weapons to conduct the attack and posed as some other extremist group. Its pretty hard to penetrate Syria without them knowing who you are.....

[jveritas]

The Syrian terrorist regime is in much more trouble than most people think. What you are seeing is terrorists fighting terrorists, evil fighting evil.

[82ndABNOfficer]

Also, remember that Israel’s intelligence groups has in the past used car bombs as a means to kill its enemies...

[FreeReign]

Pretty good excuse to use those 10,000 troops.

What's implied from your comment, is my guess about what is going on, too.

[Americanexpat]

Syria has sponsored terrorists groups and activities for over 40 years and now they got a taste of what they been dishing out, hope they choke on it.

[Issaquahking]

Not Israel, they are cleaner at solving “problems”. A bullet, or a nuke, but not some amateur's car bomb from them.

[G8 Diplomat]

Mossad used a car bomb to take out Mughniyah.

[r9etb]

Targeting the Syrian security forces is dangerous business. I wonder who would take such a risk?

I would imagine that there are factions in the Syrian security forces; and I suspect that this is between those who favor Iran, and those who do not.

If I had to guess, I'd say the pro-Iran faction was behind the bombing.

[roaddog727]

Perhaps now the Syrians have an inkling of a smidgen of fraction of an Idea about how the Israelis feel about car/suicide bombings.

Not that I approve, or am cheering. ANY terrorist bombing is just plane wrong. this is more a matter of gaining someone else’s perspective. And the perspective truly sucks.

[G8 Diplomat]

Russians in port ?

That's a possiblity. Syria isn't exactly unified. The minority Shi'a are in power, and the Sunni majority of course look down on the Shi'ites. Assad & company are afraid of a coup; he's formed his own "presidential special forces" to enhance his security and accused his own brother-in-law of involvement in a coup. Perhaps someone in this intel unit was a member of the "Let's overthrow Assad" club, which would NOT sit well with the Russkies, since the terrorist regime in Syria is their ally and Iran's. So perhaps the Russians targeted someone whom they knew to be orchestrating a coup d'etat.

[SevenofNine]

How long before they blame Israel????

Israel is George Bush of Middle East

[Dog]

I just saw an article sorry no link ....I think it was the JPost...that a TOP Syrian General connected to the regime was killed in this blast.

[Straight Vermonter]

a TOP Syrian General connected to the regime was killed in this blast.

That's interesting since another Syrian general was assassinated last month.

[Dog]

Here is the piece...

Here.

[Straight Vermonter]

I wonder if that was a revenge hit. I know next to nothing about the various divisions within Syria but this sounds like a situation to pay attention to.