Accessibility links

Breaking News

18 Killed in Car Bombing Outside Syrian Capital


People gather around wreckage after a car bomb exploded in the Jaramana district of southeast Damascus, Aug. 6, 2013.
People gather around wreckage after a car bomb exploded in the Jaramana district of southeast Damascus, Aug. 6, 2013.
Syrian state media say a car bombing in a Damascus suburb has killed at least 18 people and wounded 56.

The news agency SANA reported the incident happened late Tuesday in the suburb of Jaramana. Syria's Christian and Druze minorities live in that district, which is believed to be loyal to Syria's government.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Rebels fighting to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power have often targeted areas where regime supporters and members of the government or security forces live.

Separately, a Syrian activist group said al-Qaida-linked rebels have won control of a key air base in the northern province of Aleppo.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Islamic State of Iraq and other opposition groups seized the Mannagh air base from Syrian forces early Tuesday. The base, located near the Turkish border, had been contested for months.

More than 100,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011.
  • 16x9 Image

    VOA News

    The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.

XS
SM
MD
LG