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Dozens Killed in Suicide Bombing in Syria Dozens Killed in Suicide Bombing in Syria
(about 2 hours later)
BEIRUT — A suicide bomber driving a truck packed with explosives killed at least 30 people and wounded dozens in Syria’s central city of Hama on Sunday, state media reported. BEIRUT — A suicide bomber driving a truck packed with explosives killed at least 30 people and wounded dozens in Syria’s central city of Hama on Sunday, state news media reported.
The man blew himself up inside the vehicle on a busy road on the outskirts of the city, according to SANA, the official Syrian news agency. The bomber blew himself up inside the vehicle on a busy road on the outskirts of the city, according to SANA, the official Syrian news agency.
The news agency blamed the latest attack on “terrorists”, the term it uses to describe rebel forces trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad. The news agency blamed the latest attack on “terrorists,” the term it uses to describe rebel forces trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict from Britain through a network of contacts in Syria, said the attack targeted an army checkpoint. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict from Britain through a network of contacts in Syria, said the attack had targeted an army checkpoint.
Pictures on Syria TV showed firefighters trying to put out huge fires and black clouds of smoke rising from charred trucks and cars.Pictures on Syria TV showed firefighters trying to put out huge fires and black clouds of smoke rising from charred trucks and cars.
The attack was the second in as many days. The Syrian Observatory, which supports the opposition, said that on Saturday, at least 16 soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber with the Nusra Front opposition group attacked on a government checkpoint between the suburbs of Jaramana and Al Mleiha. After the attack, the government launched airstrikes and rebels peppered a government-controlled area with mortar rounds. The attack was the second in as many days. The Syrian Observatory, which supports the opposition, said that on Saturday, at least 16 soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber with the Nusra Front opposition group attacked a government checkpoint between the suburbs of Jaramana and Al Mleiha. After the attack, the government launched airstrikes and rebels peppered a government-controlled area with mortar rounds.
The use of a suicide bomber to open a rebel offensive also shows the increasing sway of extremist groups in areas close to the capital. While two affiliates of Al Qaeda are active in Syria — the Nusra Front and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria — they are most prominent in the country’s north and east, where they can easily transport arms and foreign fighters across the Turkish and Iraqi borders.The use of a suicide bomber to open a rebel offensive also shows the increasing sway of extremist groups in areas close to the capital. While two affiliates of Al Qaeda are active in Syria — the Nusra Front and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria — they are most prominent in the country’s north and east, where they can easily transport arms and foreign fighters across the Turkish and Iraqi borders.
Recently, their presence has increased in central and southern Syria, although more mainstream rebel groups still outnumber them.Recently, their presence has increased in central and southern Syria, although more mainstream rebel groups still outnumber them.
The Syrian Observatory, which supports the opposition, said Saturday’s battle began when a suicide bomber from the Nusra Front blew up the car he was driving near a government checkpoint between the suburbs of Jaramana and Al Mleiha. The violence continued even as Nabil Elaraby, Arab League secretary general, said on Sunday that peace talks aimed at ending the civil war in Syria were scheduled for Nov. 23. But the international envoy for Syria said no date had yet been set for the long-delayed conference.
The violence continued even as Nabil Elaraby, Arab League secretary general, said on Sunday peace talks aimed at ending the civil war in Syria were scheduled for Nov. 23. But the international envoy for Syria said no date had yet been set for the long-delayed conference.
International efforts to end the conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people have stuttered. But a deal last month for Syria to get rid of its chemical weapons arsenal rekindled efforts to convene the conference.International efforts to end the conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people have stuttered. But a deal last month for Syria to get rid of its chemical weapons arsenal rekindled efforts to convene the conference.
“I discussed the Syria file with Lakhdar Brahimi and it was decided that the Geneva meeting would take place on November 23 and arrangements are being made to prepare for this conference,” Mr. Elaraby told reporters in Cairo after a meeting with Mr. Brahimi, the international envoy for Syria. “I discussed the Syria file with Lakhdar Brahimi, and it was decided that the Geneva meeting would take place on Nov. 23 and arrangements are being made to prepare for this conference,” Mr. Elaraby told reporters in Cairo after a meeting with Mr. Brahimi, the international envoy for Syria.
“Of course there are many arrangements and many obstacles and difficulties that have to be overcome,” he added. “Of course, there are many arrangements and many obstacles and difficulties that have to be overcome,” he added.
At the same news conference, Mr. Brahimi said: “The date has not been officially set.” At the same news conference, Mr. Brahimi said, “The date has not been officially set.”
A senior Syrian official said last week that the conference was scheduled for Nov. 23-24, but co-organizers Russia and the United States said no date had been set. A senior Syrian official said last week that the conference was scheduled for Nov. 23-24, but the co-organizers Russia and the United States also said no date had been set.
Mr. Brahimi said he would travel to Qatar, Turkey, Iran and Syria, as well as Geneva, to meet American, Russian and Security Council member officials after which a final date would be announced. Mr. Brahimi said he would travel to Qatar, Turkey, Iran and Syria, as well as Geneva, to meet American, Russian and Security Council member officials, after which a final date would be announced.