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| Syrian Troops Attack Rebels, Killing Scores | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon — The Syrian Army attacked a large group of insurgents near the capital, Damascus, on Wednesday, killing more than 60, according to monitors and state media. | |
| SANA, the state news agency, also reported that 18 civilians, including children, died when a car bomb exploded at a busy intersection in Jaramana on the eastern approaches to Damascus. | SANA, the state news agency, also reported that 18 civilians, including children, died when a car bomb exploded at a busy intersection in Jaramana on the eastern approaches to Damascus. |
| The rebels killed near Damascus belonged to the Nusra Front, and some were foreigners, SANA said. It published a series of photographs showing bloodstained bodies in olive drab uniforms lying on what seemed to be open sandy, desert ground. The Nusra Front is an extremist group that the United States has designated a terrorist organization. | The rebels killed near Damascus belonged to the Nusra Front, and some were foreigners, SANA said. It published a series of photographs showing bloodstained bodies in olive drab uniforms lying on what seemed to be open sandy, desert ground. The Nusra Front is an extremist group that the United States has designated a terrorist organization. |
| In recent months, government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been seeking to clear areas around Damascus of rebels threatening the capital, the center of Mr. Assad’s power. | In recent months, government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been seeking to clear areas around Damascus of rebels threatening the capital, the center of Mr. Assad’s power. |
| State media said the rebels had been trying to attack a government position. But a rebel fighter, who identified himself only as Nouriddine, disputed that, saying the rebels were carrying food “but not weapons” to people besieged by government forces. | State media said the rebels had been trying to attack a government position. But a rebel fighter, who identified himself only as Nouriddine, disputed that, saying the rebels were carrying food “but not weapons” to people besieged by government forces. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict from Britain through a network of contacts in Syria, said that 62 rebels had been killed and that 8 more were missing. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict from Britain through a network of contacts in Syria, said that 62 rebels had been killed and that 8 more were missing. |
| Opposition fighters said that the attack took place between the Adra industrial area on the northeastern fringe of Damascus and surrounding rural areas, and that only three insurgents survived. | Opposition fighters said that the attack took place between the Adra industrial area on the northeastern fringe of Damascus and surrounding rural areas, and that only three insurgents survived. |
| Mohammed Saeed, an activist based near Damascus, told The Associated Press that 65 rebels were walking along what they thought was a secure, hidden road. | Mohammed Saeed, an activist based near Damascus, told The Associated Press that 65 rebels were walking along what they thought was a secure, hidden road. |
| “The regime forces riddled them with heavy machine-gun fire,” Mr. Saeed said, speaking via Skype, The A.P. reported. “It seems that the regime discovered the secret road that the rebels were using.” | “The regime forces riddled them with heavy machine-gun fire,” Mr. Saeed said, speaking via Skype, The A.P. reported. “It seems that the regime discovered the secret road that the rebels were using.” |
| Syria’s civil war grew from peaceful, antigovernment protests in March 2011. A ferocious government crackdown led to a bloody confrontation that has killed an estimated 100,000 people and uprooted hundreds of thousands. | Syria’s civil war grew from peaceful, antigovernment protests in March 2011. A ferocious government crackdown led to a bloody confrontation that has killed an estimated 100,000 people and uprooted hundreds of thousands. |
Anne | Hwaida Saad reported from Beirut, and Alan Cowell from London. |