Damascus: At least 13 people were killed and several others wounded after a blast hit a police station in the Old City of Damascus, Syrian state media and officials said.
According to media reports, ambulances sped to the site and security forces cut off access to the area. Several cars were burnt, witnesses said.
Although no one has yet claimed responsibility of the attack but most of the recent attacks were claimed by a new militant group suspected of having ties with Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Al-Nusra Front.
The explosion in the mainly Christian neighbourhood took place as Assad was meeting Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN-Arab League envoy, in another part of Damascus.
The envoy called for a ceasefire during the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday beginning on Friday to stem the bloodshed in a 19-month-old conflict which the independent sources say has killed at least 30,000 people.
“I appeal to everyone to take a unilateral decision to cease hostilities on the occasion of Eid al-Adha and that this truce be respected from today or tomorrow,” he said in Damascus after meeting Assad.
In Sunday’s other violence, clashes and shelling were reported in the Damascus suburb of Harasta, and bombardment in nearby Douma and Zamalka.
Fighting was also reported in the northern city of Aleppo, a key battleground for the past three months.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription