Breaking on CNNI - Gun battle taking place in Damascus Syria

[maddezmom]

will look for a link.

[Failure]

1. miles o' brien says explosions also...hospitals requesting

docs to come in.

[MaineDem]

2. Why was this moved from LBN?

"Breaking" on CNN now as well.

[Gin]

5. Is Damascus near Israel? Who would be fighting?

gin

[AZCat]

8. A couple of years ago I got this big ME map and put it on the wall

It's right above my computer so I can look at it when I read about the ME. It really helps. Damascus is in SW Syria, maybe 50 miles from the coast and Jordan. It is north of Israel, east of Lebanon.

Note: there are probably DUers who are much more familiar with ME geography, feel free to correct me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Essentially you are correct

I doubt this was the Israelis though... the targets are telling though

Iranian and Canadian EMBASSIES, and this started in the EMBASSY quarter.

This is not Israel folks, but this could quickly expand

By the way, the border between Israel and Syria is a narrow corridor called the Golan Heights

[AZCat]

12. Oooh yeah, how could I forget the Golan Heights?

Thanks - I had forgotten about that.

I don't think this is Israel either. It doesn't sound like their style, and I have no idea why they would bomb embassies.

[IronLionZion]

29. The Golan Heights is not narrow

between the Golan Heights and the Syrian border is a narrow UN security zone.

This is not Israel's doing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Checking CNN National, DO NOT have CNN international

and will also check the rest of the wires

[TNOE]

4. Rut-Roo

Looks like Bush* has got his WWIII on - anything to distract.... doesn't matter how many lives are at stake - the big powergrab is on.

[bigtree]

6. Where's the accountability?

Invasion of another sovereign nation. Widening of the war. Where are our representatives?

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Link

from BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3664811.stm

This is the significant point in the very small news release

-------------

The explosions are said to have occurred near the Iranian and Canadian embassies in the city.

[KoKo]

11. Here's a little more from BBC:

A series of explosions and gunfire rocked the Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday evening, reports say.

Sources in the city said between three and five explosions were heard starting at about 1600 GMT. The blasts were followed by repeated gunfire.

The explosions are said to have occurred near the Iranian and Canadian embassies in the city.

They took place on the Mesa highway leading into central Damascus from the Lebanese capital Beirut.

[hedda_foil]

15. Kurds?

[htuttle]

18. I'm thinking maybe Kurds also

Or maybe some wild card -- an aspiring warlord like Chalabi, perhaps?

[charlie]

22. Or Islamo-fundies hoping to throw gasoline

on the fire by killing a passel of diplomats.

[charlie]

23. Another report

Two explosions and heavy gunfire were heard Tuesday evening in the Syrian capital of Damascus. According to initial reports, the explosions took place outside both the British ambassador's house and the Saudi Arabian embassy in Damascus.

The explosions were in west Damascus' al-Mazza district, Al-Jazeera TV said.

Indications as to who was behind the attacks as well as any motives are still unclear at this time as police and security rush to both scenes to assess the situation.

Syrian television reported that Syrian security forces clashed with a "terrorist band" late Tuesday in Damascus, after the blasts.

http://www.albawaba.com/news/index.php3?sid=275735

[maddezmom]

10. thanks for all the links

but past the editing time. :(

[KoKo]

13. Map of Syria:

[catmandu57]

14. Why Iranian and Canadian?

wtf is going on here????

[ieoeja]

20. Canadien close to Iranian?

I don't know, but my first guess would be that this is aimed at Iran with the Canadian embassy simply being nearby.

[charlie]

21. This article mentions

the British and Saudi embassies:

Explosions and heavy gunfire were heard Tuesday near the British ambassador's residence and the Saudi Embassy in Damascus

It could just be in the midst of embassy row and no one yet knows which, if any, were targeted.

[htuttle]

16. Who could it be? Whoever could it be?

Hmm....

Al Queda? MMMMMM...maybe. They've never liked the 'socialist infidels' in Syria any more than they like the 'socialist infidels' in Iraq. However, it seems odd that they would attack the Iranian embassy. I am aware that Iran is Shiite, while Al Queda is Sunni/Wahhabist, but it just doesn't sit right with me. I doubt it is Al Queda-related.

Homegrown Syrian? No idea. The only possibility I can think of would be Kurdish separatists in Syria. That would fit with an Iranian target, but Canada?

Some connection with Chalabi's Boyz? Hmm...Now there's an interesting idea. Mark my words, Chalabi will not just fade away -- he intends on ruling SOMETHING in the region. I've felt very suspicious of them recently, especially in connection with what appear to be factional attacks in Iraq. I think it's in his general interest to stir up trouble in the region in his quest for personal power.


Hopefully, more facts will surface soon. Perhaps I'm making too much of the particular targets listed.

[charlie]

17. First Kim, now Assad

is having a bad week. Hmmm...

[Zero Gravitas]

19. Thank you George W. Bush

for making the world so much safer.

[welshTerrier2]

24. OK, I've been waiting for this ... time for my pun ...

looks like bush will be stuck between Iraq and Assad's place ...

OK, i feel better now ...

[Joanne98]

25. The bombing of Fallujia has taken over the TV

Can't they report both of them?

[Joanne98]

26. kick

[damnraddem]

27. Must be more of those terrorist Baathists -- oh wait:

Syria is run by Baathists.

Sorry, Dubya, it can't be your favorite 'terrorists.' ;-)

[dArKeR]

28. lasts & Gunfire In Damascus - CBS

Syrian security forces clashed with a "terrorist band" late Tuesday in Damascus, Syrian television reported after explosions and gunfire were heard in a neighborhood where foreign diplomats live and work.

There was no immediate word on casualties.

Syrian television, in a brief statement, said the "terrorist band" opened fire indiscriminately. Security forces gave chase and were in control of the situation. It gave no other details.

Syria has not seen such violence in years.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/27/world/main614030.shtml