Syria’s opposition proclaimed “the beginning of the end” for Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Wednesday night after a bomb attack in the heart of Damascus killed three of the president’s closest lieutenants, including his powerful brother-in-law.
Striking the very core of Mr Assad’s defence apparatus, the bomb exploded
inside the headquarters of Syria’s
national security council as officials convened a meeting of the 'crisis
cell’ set up to crush the 16-month uprising against the president’s rule.
For weeks, Mr Assad’s power had been visibly crumbling, weakened by a series
of high-profile defections. But yesterday’s attack amounted to an
evisceration of his inner sanctum, a solitary strike more devastating than
any other rebel act during the past 16 months of blood-letting.
In a series of grim broadcasts, state television confirmed the fatalities: Gen
Daoud Rajha, the defence minister, Gen Hassan Turkmani, assistant to the
vice-president and head of the crisis cell, and Assef Shawkat, the husband
of Mr Assad’s sister and the most important scalp of all. Mr Shawkat was
referred to by some Syrians as their “second president”.
There were reports that Mohammed Shaar, the interior minister, was also among the dead, while Gen Hisham Ikhtiyar, one of Mr Assad’s intelligence chiefs, was said to have been wounded.
Late last night, there were also claims from one rebel spokesman that Mr Assad himself may have been at the meeting when the bomb went off. It was suggested that he may have been wounded and taken out of Damascus on a private jet. Both reports were unconfirmed.
The cause of the explosion was also unclear. Initial reports suggested it may have been the work of a suicide bomber, with government officials alleging that the perpetrator was a bodyguard.
But senior rebel officials told The Daily Telegraph that bombs hidden in a flower arrangement and a chocolate box were remotely detonated by defectors working to bring down the regime from within.
Both the Free Syrian Army and a jihadi group calling itself Liwa al-Islam claimed responsibility, although they may have been acting in collaboration.
“There were two bombs,” Louay al-Mokdad, the FSA’s logistical coordinator said. “One was hidden in a packet of chocolates and one in a big flower pot that was in the middle of the table of the conference room.” He claimed that the operation was conducted by a group of FSA members in collaboration with drivers and bodyguards working for Mr Assad’s inner circle, a version repeated by other activists.
There were reports that Mohammed Shaar, the interior minister, was also among the dead, while Gen Hisham Ikhtiyar, one of Mr Assad’s intelligence chiefs, was said to have been wounded.
Late last night, there were also claims from one rebel spokesman that Mr Assad himself may have been at the meeting when the bomb went off. It was suggested that he may have been wounded and taken out of Damascus on a private jet. Both reports were unconfirmed.
The cause of the explosion was also unclear. Initial reports suggested it may have been the work of a suicide bomber, with government officials alleging that the perpetrator was a bodyguard.
But senior rebel officials told The Daily Telegraph that bombs hidden in a flower arrangement and a chocolate box were remotely detonated by defectors working to bring down the regime from within.
Both the Free Syrian Army and a jihadi group calling itself Liwa al-Islam claimed responsibility, although they may have been acting in collaboration.
“There were two bombs,” Louay al-Mokdad, the FSA’s logistical coordinator said. “One was hidden in a packet of chocolates and one in a big flower pot that was in the middle of the table of the conference room.” He claimed that the operation was conducted by a group of FSA members in collaboration with drivers and bodyguards working for Mr Assad’s inner circle, a version repeated by other activists.
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