Israel Matzav

Breaking: Bus explosion in Damascus

There has been an explosion in a bus crowded with Iranian pilgrims near a Shiite shrine in a Damascus suburb this morning. Anywhere from five to twelve people have been killed depending on which report you believe. This is from MSNBC:

"Body parts are still scattered around the bus," one of the witnesses told Reuters. Several more people were wounded in the explosion in the Sayyeda Zainab area in Damascus.

Syrian security forces deployed in the area, a popular destination for Shiites from Iran and Lebanon, and were investigating the blast.

The bomb attack took place as Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, was visiting Damascus for meetings with Syrian officials.

Coincidence? Maybe.

He was not known to be at the shrine, but the blast may serve as a message to Iran by Syrians opposed to the increasing domination of Iranian Shiites in the suburb, known as Sayyeda Zainab. The attack, which eyewitnesses said was carried with rockets, occurred near Khomeini Hospital, named after the late Iranian Islamist dictator Ayatollah Khomeini. Witnesses said the hospital sustained serious damage.

Details are sparse due to Syria’s tight lid on media in the country. Syrian media have not reported any news of the explosion.

Hmmm.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:01 PM