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Assailants Gun Down Syrian Official in Damascus Assailants Gun Down Syrian Official in Damascus
(about 3 hours later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Penetrating an area of Damascus generally seen as well-guarded, a squad of assailants using silencer-equipped weapons shot to death a government official in a gangland-style killing as he dined in the upscale Mezzeh district of the Syrian capital, residents and opposition activists said on Friday. BEIRUT, Lebanon — Penetrating an area of Damascus generally seen as well guarded, a squad of assailants using silencer-equipped weapons shot to death a government official in a gangland-style killing as he dined in the upscale Mezzeh district of the Syrian capital, residents and opposition activists said on Friday.
The official was identified in news reports as Ali Balan, a member of Syria’s relief agency and the head of planning at the Social Affairs Ministry.The official was identified in news reports as Ali Balan, a member of Syria’s relief agency and the head of planning at the Social Affairs Ministry.
While several mid-ranking officials have been killed as the country’s civil war encroaches into government-held areas, the location of the latest shooting was unusual because the western Mezzeh district was considered to be secure. While several midranking officials have been killed as the country’s civil war has encroached into government-held areas, the location of the latest shooting was unusual because the western Mezzeh district was considered to be secure.
A resident, who spoke in return for anonymity because of the security situation in Damascus, said four assailants carried out the killing at a Chinese restaurant at around 11 p.m. One member of the squad entered the restaurant and opened fire with a silenced pistol, the resident said, while the other three waited outside. A resident, who spoke in return for anonymity because of the security situation in Damascus, said four assailants carried out the killing at a Chinese restaurant at around 11 p.m. on Thursday. One member of the squad entered the restaurant and opened fire with a silenced pistol, the resident said, while the other three waited outside.
The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in Britain and draws its information from a network of anti-government informants in Syria, offered a slightly different version, saying all four attackers entered the restaurant in early evening and one opened fire as other diners looked on. The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in Britain and draws its information from a network of antigovernment informants in Syria, offered a slightly different version, saying all four attackers entered the restaurant in the early evening and that one opened fire as other diners looked on.
Rami Abdul Rahman, the founder of the Observatory, said the killing was a “political assassination” that he had learned about from medical sources and residents. Rami Abdul Rahman, the founder of the Syrian Observatory, said the killing was a “political assassination” that he had learned about from medical sources and residents.
The official SANA news agency recorded the assassination in a terse dispatch, blaming what it called “terrorists” for shooting Mr. Balan “while he was sitting in a restaurant in the area, causing his martyrdom.”The official SANA news agency recorded the assassination in a terse dispatch, blaming what it called “terrorists” for shooting Mr. Balan “while he was sitting in a restaurant in the area, causing his martyrdom.”
Since the Syrian revolt began in March 2011 and ballooned into a full-blown civil war, even the most heavily-guarded parts of the capital have not been immune from attack, often by bombers. Since the Syrian revolt began in March 2011 and ballooned into a full-blown civil war, even the most heavily guarded parts of the capital have not been immune from attack, often by bombers.
Last July, the killing of several of President Bashar al-Assad’s key security aides in a brazen bombing attack, close to Mr. Assad’s own residence, called into question the ability of the government to protect its functionaries from attack. Last July, the killing of several of President Bashar al-Assad’s main security aides in a brazen bombing attack near Mr. Assad’s own residence, called into question the ability of the government to protect its functionaries from attack.
Just weeks ago, in March, an explosion killed at least 42 people inside a central Damascus mosque, including one of the major remaining Sunni supporters of President Assad’s embattled Alawite government.Just weeks ago, in March, an explosion killed at least 42 people inside a central Damascus mosque, including one of the major remaining Sunni supporters of President Assad’s embattled Alawite government.

Hwaida Saad reported from Beirut, Lebanon, and Alan Cowell frorm London. Anne Barnard contributed reporting from Beirut.

Hwaida Saad reported from Beirut, Lebanon, and Alan Cowell from London. Anne Barnard contributed reporting from Beirut.