Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat and Security Chief General Hisham Ikhtiyar were both killed.
Al-Assad appointed General Fahd al-Jassem al-Freij, Chief of Staff of Syrian armed forces, to replace Rajiha.
Another top official died of injuries from the blast: Assistance Vice President Hassan Turkmani.
The Free Syrian Army planted the bomb a month ago and just waited for the meeting to happen.