Syrian Army Restores Security in Capital – According to Iran
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army managed to reestablish security in the capital city of Damascus on Friday after it cleaned restive Midan neighborhood of terrorist rebels.
The Syrian state television reported that the country’s army has cleaned Midan area of Damascus of terrorist groups.
“Army forces have completely cleaned the area of Midan in Damascus of the remaining mercenary terrorists and have reestablished security,” the state television said.
The development came two days after an explosion inside the Syrian national security headquarters in Damascus targeted ministers from President Bashar al-Assad’s government who were meeting with defense officials on Wednesday, killing three of the most senior members of President Assad’s inner circle, including his brother-in-law.
The Syrian Army said Defense Minister and his deputy, Asef Shawkat, were both killed in the explosion. Shawkat, Assad’s brother-in-law, also held the title of deputy chief of staff.
According to Syrian TV, former Defense Minister Hassan Turkmani, who headed Assad’s ‘crisis cell’ that coordinated the government’s response to the 16-month uprising, was also killed in the blast.
Other ministers and military officials were seriously wounded in the explosion, according to state media.
Syrian State TV reported that Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar and National Security Department head Major General Hisham Ikhtiar sustained injuries.
Meantime, latest reports said on Friday that Ikhtiyar has died of explosion wounds.
