Download
Three top Syrian security officials were killed and others injured when an explosion ripped through the national intelligence headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday, dealing a strong blow to the Syrian leadership, which pledged a tough response to the attack.
Syrian Defense Minister Dawood Rajha, his deputy, Assef Shawkat, and senior military official Hassan Turkmani were killed in the bombing during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials. Shawkat is also Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law.
The attack is the first of its kind in targeting high-profile figures in the capital, which has been rocked by intense clashes since Sunday.
Hours after the bombing, Syria named Fahd Jassem al-Freij, former army chief of staff, as the new defense minister. The authority vowed to "continue fighting terrorism" and to punish those responsible for the bomb attack, saying it would "chop any hand that harms national security".
"Whoever thinks that by targeting some commanders they can twist Syria's arm is delusional," a military statement read out on state television said.
Two opposition Islamist groups, Liwa al-Islam and the Free Syrian Army, claimed responsibility for the attack shortly after the explosion, hailing it as a successful strike at the heart of the government.
"God willing, this is the beginning of the end of the regime," Syria's rebel commander, Riad al-Asaad, told The Associated Press.
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday that the situation in Syria appeared to be "spinning out of control".
The loss of top security aides is a serious attack on Assad, said Li Huaxin, former Chinese ambassador to Syria. "The country's situation is deteriorating with opposition parties' stronger military provocation."
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.
咖啡文化:爱尔兰咖啡(Cafe Irish)的命名故事
辞旧迎新:美国各地奇怪的跨年方式
海外文化:圣诞老人的传说
全球最动听的英文花名(图)
享受生活中的点滴 回味柏拉图式的美好时光 (下)
7月6号国际接吻日:今天你亲吻了吗?
悠然闲适尽在下午茶:下午茶的来历
享受生活中的点滴 回味柏拉图式的美好时光 (上)
为什么喝酒前要碰杯呢?
念到你抓狂的英语绕口令
英国育儿账单大曝光(图)
五花八门的美式派对,你知道吗?
海外文化:关于《圣经》的十大误解(双语组图)
芝加哥的别名,你知道多少?
让人又敬又怕的神秘女巫
美利坚搞笑十大怪
异域采风:从《新娘大作战》看英美婚俗
入乡随俗必须知道的五个禁忌
丁克家庭之后的奈特尔家庭
欧美文化:趣谈中英文化中的动物之别
咖啡文化:卡布奇诺(Cappuccino)的命名故事
欧美文化:美国国旗的意义
咖啡文化:玛奇朵咖啡名字的由来
欧洲十大知名犯罪小说作家
咖啡文化:了解咖啡豆命名的依据
海外文化:美国家庭成员之间如何称谓?
海外文化:传说中的吸血鬼真的存在么?
是谁最早成立的啦啦队
10个短句和老外轻松聊葡萄酒
生活杂谈:九个出国必备的美式幽默
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |