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| Aid Group Hit by Car Bomb in Damascus | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon — As fighting raged in the Damascus suburbs, a car bomb exploded in the southern Zahraa district on Thursday, killing one person and damaging the headquarters of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent relief organization, state news media reported. | BEIRUT, Lebanon — As fighting raged in the Damascus suburbs, a car bomb exploded in the southern Zahraa district on Thursday, killing one person and damaging the headquarters of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent relief organization, state news media reported. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the conflict from Britain through a network of antigovernment activists, also reported the attack. There were no immediate claims of responsibility, but the official SANA news agency blamed terrorists, its usual designation for opponents of President Bashar al-Assad. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the conflict from Britain through a network of antigovernment activists, also reported the attack. There were no immediate claims of responsibility, but the official SANA news agency blamed terrorists, its usual designation for opponents of President Bashar al-Assad. |
| A Lebanese news channel, citing its correspondent in Damascus, the capital, reported that the target of the attack may have been Prime Minister Wael al-Halki and that the bomb killed his driver outside the driver’s home, but those reports were not immediately confirmed. | A Lebanese news channel, citing its correspondent in Damascus, the capital, reported that the target of the attack may have been Prime Minister Wael al-Halki and that the bomb killed his driver outside the driver’s home, but those reports were not immediately confirmed. |
| The Syrian Arab Red Crescent plays a crucial role in distributing food to displaced Syrians and works with the United Nations World Food Program, which announced Tuesday that its efforts were being disrupted by attacks on delivery vehicles. | The Syrian Arab Red Crescent plays a crucial role in distributing food to displaced Syrians and works with the United Nations World Food Program, which announced Tuesday that its efforts were being disrupted by attacks on delivery vehicles. |
| Another car bomb on Thursday shook the neighborhood of Mezze 86 for the second time in less than three weeks, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The neighborhood, on the southwestern edge of Damascus, is home to many Alawites from the Syrian coast, including military family members. The observatory said there was heavy damage in the area but no casualties. | Another car bomb on Thursday shook the neighborhood of Mezze 86 for the second time in less than three weeks, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The neighborhood, on the southwestern edge of Damascus, is home to many Alawites from the Syrian coast, including military family members. The observatory said there was heavy damage in the area but no casualties. |
| Fighting continued throughout the Damascus suburbs, where government forces attacked rebel-held neighborhoods with artillery fire, and battles raged along the road to the airport as security forces continued a counteroffensive against opposition forces that in recent weeks have tried to encircle Damascus and cut off the airport road. | Fighting continued throughout the Damascus suburbs, where government forces attacked rebel-held neighborhoods with artillery fire, and battles raged along the road to the airport as security forces continued a counteroffensive against opposition forces that in recent weeks have tried to encircle Damascus and cut off the airport road. |
| Residents said central Damascus was locked down and that its people were afraid, with traffic jams and checkpoints making it difficult to move about the city, and the sounds of explosions throughout the day and night. | Residents said central Damascus was locked down and that its people were afraid, with traffic jams and checkpoints making it difficult to move about the city, and the sounds of explosions throughout the day and night. |
| North of Damascus, rebels continued to fight government forces around two key bases: Wadi al-Deif, at a critical crossroads on the road between Damascus and Aleppo, and the Managh military airport in the northern province of Idlib, where a standoff has continued for months between government forces and rebel fighters who have cut off road access to the base. | North of Damascus, rebels continued to fight government forces around two key bases: Wadi al-Deif, at a critical crossroads on the road between Damascus and Aleppo, and the Managh military airport in the northern province of Idlib, where a standoff has continued for months between government forces and rebel fighters who have cut off road access to the base. |
| In Lebanon, Reuters reported, two men were killed by snipers in the northern port of Tripoli on Thursday during sectarian clashes between gunmen loyal to opposing sides in Syria’s civil war. They were the latest fatalities in three days of clashes that have killed eight people and wounded 58. | In Lebanon, Reuters reported, two men were killed by snipers in the northern port of Tripoli on Thursday during sectarian clashes between gunmen loyal to opposing sides in Syria’s civil war. They were the latest fatalities in three days of clashes that have killed eight people and wounded 58. |
Hala Droubi contributed reporting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and an employee of The New York Times from Damascus, Syria. | Hala Droubi contributed reporting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and an employee of The New York Times from Damascus, Syria. |