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Syria blast at Mezzeh military airport in Damascus | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A huge blast has been reported in the western Mezzeh suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus. | A huge blast has been reported in the western Mezzeh suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus. |
Syrian state TV said the blast was caused by "a terrorist attempt to target Mezzeh military airport". | Syrian state TV said the blast was caused by "a terrorist attempt to target Mezzeh military airport". |
Unconfirmed reports said around 20 soldiers were killed or wounded in the explosion. | |
Mezzeh military airport is an important strategic installation and plays a significant role in distributing the government's military supplies. | Mezzeh military airport is an important strategic installation and plays a significant role in distributing the government's military supplies. |
Activists said a big fire was raging inside the airport and that ambulances were heading to the scene. | Activists said a big fire was raging inside the airport and that ambulances were heading to the scene. |
The UK-based activist group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), said that a car bomb had been detonated targeting a military checkpoint near the airport. | The UK-based activist group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), said that a car bomb had been detonated targeting a military checkpoint near the airport. |
The group, which has a network of informants on the ground, said there had been some 20 military casualties. | |
Mezzeh military airport is an important buffer between several outlying suburbs to the south-west, which are largely in rebel hands, and the core of the city including the nearby presidential palace, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut. | Mezzeh military airport is an important buffer between several outlying suburbs to the south-west, which are largely in rebel hands, and the core of the city including the nearby presidential palace, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut. |
In recent weeks, government forces have pushed the rebels back from many of the suburbs ringing the capital. | In recent weeks, government forces have pushed the rebels back from many of the suburbs ringing the capital. |
If the airport was the target of a car bombing, it will not bring the rebels any closer to over-running the city centre, which at present they are not in a position to do, our correspondent adds. | If the airport was the target of a car bombing, it will not bring the rebels any closer to over-running the city centre, which at present they are not in a position to do, our correspondent adds. |
In April, state media reported that Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi survived a car bomb attack in the same district. | In April, state media reported that Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi survived a car bomb attack in the same district. |
Last month, Syria accused Israel of launching rocket attacks on a military facility near Damascus and on a shipment of missiles near the Lebanese border. | Last month, Syria accused Israel of launching rocket attacks on a military facility near Damascus and on a shipment of missiles near the Lebanese border. |
'Chorus of conspiracy' | 'Chorus of conspiracy' |
Also on Sunday, Syria condemned Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi for cutting off diplomatic relations between the two countries. | Also on Sunday, Syria condemned Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi for cutting off diplomatic relations between the two countries. |
Mr Morsi had joined a "chorus of conspiracy and incitement led by America", an "official source" told the state-run Sana news agency. | Mr Morsi had joined a "chorus of conspiracy and incitement led by America", an "official source" told the state-run Sana news agency. |
Mr Morsi announced that Syria's embassy in Cairo would be shut and Egypt's representative withdrawn from Damascus. He also called on the international community to impose a no-fly zone over the country. | Mr Morsi announced that Syria's embassy in Cairo would be shut and Egypt's representative withdrawn from Damascus. He also called on the international community to impose a no-fly zone over the country. |
Addressing a rally in support of the Syrian opposition on Saturday, Mr Morsi went on to call on the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah to withdraw from the fighting in Syria. | Addressing a rally in support of the Syrian opposition on Saturday, Mr Morsi went on to call on the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah to withdraw from the fighting in Syria. |
Some Sunni Muslim clerics have urged support for rebels in Syria. | Some Sunni Muslim clerics have urged support for rebels in Syria. |