Syrian defectors launch daring raid on intelligence base

Lebanon Now News ^

[jhpigott]

Syrian army defectors attacked a military intelligence base on Wednesday in one of the most daring raids in eight months of protests against almost five decades of Baath rule.

The early morning raid on the air force intelligence base just outside Damascus was among the most spectacular carried out by the growing number of deserters from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's largely conscript armed forces who have refused orders to open fire on civilian protesters.

The unprecedented movement against Assad's 11-year rule has been spearheaded by peaceful demonstrators but in recent months the deserters have organized themselves into a Free Syrian Army which has inflicted growing losses on the regular armed forces.

"The Free Army struck with rockets and RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades] the headquarters of air force intelligence which is located at the entrance of Damascus," the Local Coordination Committees, an activist network, said in a statement, adding that smoke was rising from the area.

Activists, who illustrated the three-pronged attack in a plan attached to their statement, said prisoners being detained at the intelligence branch "were well" but the operation failed to secure their release.

[jhpigott]

If true, the attack is the first on a major facility of the security forces since the uprising beganin mid-March. At the same time, it is important to note the location: we have been noting that armed clashes have been moving from Homs and the "periphery" of Syria --- towns in the northwest, Daraa Province in the south --- towards the centre. This challenge would be a vivid example of that shift.

http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2011/11/16/syria-and-beyond-liveblog-an-attack-on-a-major-military-comp.html

[jhpigott]

ping

[ASA Vet]

MI Ping

[jhpigott]

France recalls ambassador to Syria: minister - AFP

AJE - Syria: Embassies of Morocco, Qatar and the Emirates in Damascus, is under attack

[DUMBGRUNT]

“Double, double toil and trouble”

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air”

[ColdSteelTalon]

Trying to put out the eye of the government I see. Thats the first step. Especially if the Syrians have a decent intelligence service.