This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/world/middleeast/syria.html

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Syrian Insurgents Mount Fierce Attack on Military Compound in Damascus Syrian Insurgents Mount Fierce Attack on Military Compound in Damascus
(about 1 hour later)
DAMASCUS, Syria — Suicide bombers struck a military headquarters in a busy square in central Damascus on Wednesday morning, the second insurgent assault on a government military installation in two days and the largest attack in the capital since July, when explosions killed several key aides to President Bashar al-Assad.DAMASCUS, Syria — Suicide bombers struck a military headquarters in a busy square in central Damascus on Wednesday morning, the second insurgent assault on a government military installation in two days and the largest attack in the capital since July, when explosions killed several key aides to President Bashar al-Assad.
In gunfire after two explosions, a television correspondent — Maya Naser of Press TV, Iran’s English-language satellite network — was killed during a live broadcast, the network said. It said its Damascus bureau chief, Hussein Murtada, was wounded. In gunfire after two explosions, a television correspondent — Maya Naser of Press TV, Iran’s English-language satellite network — was killed during a live broadcast, the network said.
In a statement, the Syrian Army said that “armed terrorist gangs, with foreign links, carried out a new terrorist act this morning by blowing up an explosives-laden car and a bomb at the Army General Command, which damaged the building, caused a fire and wounded some of the guards.”In a statement, the Syrian Army said that “armed terrorist gangs, with foreign links, carried out a new terrorist act this morning by blowing up an explosives-laden car and a bomb at the Army General Command, which damaged the building, caused a fire and wounded some of the guards.”
The warren of government buildings is in one of the capital’s most guarded areas, near an office used by Mr. Assad. State television broadcast images of a small white minibus slowing to a stop on a busy road near the wall of the compound and then exploding in a fireball. Other images showed what appeared to be another blast in the compound. Witnesses said it struck the air force command headquarters. The warren of government buildings is in one of the capital’s most guarded areas, near an office used by Mr. Assad. State television broadcast images of a small white minibus slowing to a stop on a busy road near the wall of the military compound and then exploding in a fireball. Other images showed what appeared to be another blast in the compound. Witnesses said it struck the air force command headquarters.
Witnesses said the blasts were precursors to a fierce armed attack. One said that dozens of insurgent fighters appeared almost immediately, attacking with grenades and gunfire while guards from the military complex ran around in a panic. The blasts were precursors to a fierce armed attack, two witnesses said. One said that dozens of insurgent fighters appeared almost immediately, attacking with grenades and gunfire while guards from the military complex ran around in a panic.
Reports of the toll varied. Syrian state news media said that four guards were killed at the military headquarters and that 14 people were wounded, including some civilians, while witnesses said they saw dead guards, soldiers and insurgent fighters. Reports of the toll varied. Syrian state news media said that four guards were killed at the military headquarters and that 14 people were wounded, including some civilians, while witnesses said they also saw dead guards, soldiers and insurgent fighters.
There were at least two claims of responsibility. The Free Syrian Army, the umbrella group for defected soldiers, said on its Facebook page that one of its fighters blew himself up at the compound gate, allowing four others to enter, and that a car bomb killed everyone in the courtyard. It also said informers had helped plant bombs inside the compound a day earlier.There were at least two claims of responsibility. The Free Syrian Army, the umbrella group for defected soldiers, said on its Facebook page that one of its fighters blew himself up at the compound gate, allowing four others to enter, and that a car bomb killed everyone in the courtyard. It also said informers had helped plant bombs inside the compound a day earlier.
An Islamist group, Tajamo Ansar al-Islam, also claimed responsibility. None of the claims of either group could be independently verified.An Islamist group, Tajamo Ansar al-Islam, also claimed responsibility. None of the claims of either group could be independently verified.
On Tuesday, insurgents bombed a school they claimed was being used as a headquarters and barracks for military officers and for the government’s plainclothes security enforcers, known as shabiha. The attacks showed fighters remained able to strike close to centers of power, even after weeks of efforts by the Syrian military to drive them from the capital.On Tuesday, insurgents bombed a school they claimed was being used as a headquarters and barracks for military officers and for the government’s plainclothes security enforcers, known as shabiha. The attacks showed fighters remained able to strike close to centers of power, even after weeks of efforts by the Syrian military to drive them from the capital.
Hala Jaber, a journalist in Damascus for The Sunday Times of London, posted photographs online on Wednesday showing fire and smoke engulfing the military headquarters. “Huge explosion now followed by sound of gunfire and siren of ambulances,” Ms. Jaber wrote on Twitter, saying that a second explosion was heard shortly afterward. Also on Wednesday, activist groups reported the discovery of dozens of bodies in Thiyabiya, a Damascus suburb, including men who had apparently been executed. One group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that at least 40 bodies had been found, including women and children.
A 40-year-old driver who works near Umayyad Square, where the buildings are, described chaotic scenes of battle, as rebels fought their way into the army headquarters and others fired on soldiers from rooftops. Then, he said, “big numbers of soldiers and security men came from everywhere and they surrounded the building, and began fighting in a crazy way.” The explosions on Wednesday occurred within a 10-minute period, beginning about 7 a.m. A 40-year-old driver who works near Umayyad Square, where the buildings are, described chaotic scenes of battle, as rebels fought their way into the army headquarters and others fired on soldiers from rooftops. Then, he said, “big numbers of soldiers and security men came from everywhere and they surrounded the building, and began fighting in a crazy way.”
“I cannot believe what I saw,” the driver said. “The government cannot protect its military and key security buildings, so how can it protect the country?”“I cannot believe what I saw,” the driver said. “The government cannot protect its military and key security buildings, so how can it protect the country?”
Another witness described the shock of seeing fighting in the center of the capital. “I saw dozens of armed security men and soldiers killed and injured,” he said, adding that, for a time, gunfire from the rebels prevented ambulances from approaching.Another witness described the shock of seeing fighting in the center of the capital. “I saw dozens of armed security men and soldiers killed and injured,” he said, adding that, for a time, gunfire from the rebels prevented ambulances from approaching.
“To see dozens of armed rebels, with snipers, machine guns and grenades — I was not expecting this in my life,” the witness said. “To see dozens of armed rebels, with snipers, machine guns and grenades — I was not expecting this in my life.”
The government responded quickly, shutting down parts of the capital, including entrances to Damascus and all roads leading to Umayyad Square. Checkpoints were set up as dozens of security officers streamed in. Shabiha searched shoppers in the Souk al-Hamidiya, the market in the heart of old Damascus.The government responded quickly, shutting down parts of the capital, including entrances to Damascus and all roads leading to Umayyad Square. Checkpoints were set up as dozens of security officers streamed in. Shabiha searched shoppers in the Souk al-Hamidiya, the market in the heart of old Damascus.

An employee of The New York Times reported from Damascus, and Kareem Fahim from Istanbul. Hania Mourtada and Anne Barnard contributed reporting from Beirut, Lebanon, and Alan Cowell from London.

An employee of The New York Times reported from Damascus, and Kareem Fahim from Istanbul. Hania Mourtada and Anne Barnard contributed reporting from Beirut, Lebanon, and Alan Cowell from London.