Suicide car bombers strike in heart of Aleppo, 48 dead

Story Here.

"BEIRUT, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Three suicide car bombs and a mortar barrage ripped through a government-controlled district of central Aleppo housing a military officers' club on Wednesday, killing 48 people according to activists.

The coordinated attacks hit just days after rebels launched an offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria's biggest city, leading to heavy fighting and a fire which gutted a large part of its medieval covered market.

The state news agency SANA said suicide bombers detonated two explosive-laden cars in the main square, Saadallah al-Jabiri, which is lined on its eastern flank by the military club, two hotels and a telecoms office...

...The facades of many buildings overlooking the square were ripped off and a deep crater was gouged in the road. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 48 people were killed, mostly from the security forces, while SANA put the death toll at 31.

Wednesday's attacks in Aleppo followed last week's bombing of the military staff headquarters in Damascus, another strike by Assad's outgunned opponents against bulwarks of his power".

Another one of these mysterious strikes. It seems there are more anti-Assad fighters coming into this fight, including those with car bomb making expertise. But at the same time, these are tightly guarded sectors in the city. On the one hand, there are claims that these are false flag attacks. On the other, the opposition might just be getting help from the inside. It's tough to say.

I was hoping the rebels wouldnt resort to these tactics

I was hoping the rebels wouldnt resort to these tactics

BossPerson

But there is still some ambiguity about who did it. Even if the rebels were resorting to suicide bombing tactics, it's still reflective of a major security failure on the part of Assad.

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]

I was hoping the rebels wouldnt resort to these tactics

jetpower3

But there is still some ambiguity about who did it. Even if the rebels were resorting to suicide bombing tactics, it's still reflective of a major security failure on the part of Assad.

Syria is in a state of civil war, The security situation can't get much worse.

[QUOTE="jetpower3"]

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]

I was hoping the rebels wouldnt resort to these tactics

mattisgod01

But there is still some ambiguity about who did it. Even if the rebels were resorting to suicide bombing tactics, it's still reflective of a major security failure on the part of Assad.

Syria is in a state of civil war, The security situation can't get much worse.

Up until now, the Assad regime and the Syrian military could create a facade that there was at least a semi-balance of normalcy in the hearts of both Aleppo and Damascus. I guess not anymore.

[QUOTE="mattisgod01"]

[QUOTE="jetpower3"]

But there is still some ambiguity about who did it. Even if the rebels were resorting to suicide bombing tactics, it's still reflective of a major security failure on the part of Assad.

jetpower3

Syria is in a state of civil war, The security situation can't get much worse.

Up until now, the Assad regime and the Syrian military could portray a facade that there was at least a semi-balance of normalcy in the hearts of both Aleppo and Damascus. I guess not anymore.

[QUOTE="jetpower3"]

[QUOTE="mattisgod01"]

Syria is in a state of civil war, The security situation can't get much worse.

KC_Hokie

Up until now, the Assad regime and the Syrian military could portray a facade that there was at least a semi-balance of normalcy in the hearts of both Aleppo and Damascus. I guess not anymore.

I'm talking about the very center of the city. Up until about the end of August, there were reports of people still going to restaurants and parks every night and what not.

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"][QUOTE="jetpower3"]

Up until now, the Assad regime and the Syrian military could portray a facade that there was at least a semi-balance of normalcy in the hearts of both Aleppo and Damascus. I guess not anymore.

jetpower3

I'm talking about the very center of the city. Up until about the end of August, there were reports of people still going to restaurants and parks every night and what not.

Reports from who? Syrian state TV?. Reminds me of the Iraqi Information Minister during the 2003 invasion. Making claims about Iraq repelling the invaders and denying Western reports of their advances while Abrams Tanks were practically parking behind him.

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"][QUOTE="jetpower3"]

Up until now, the Assad regime and the Syrian military could portray a facade that there was at least a semi-balance of normalcy in the hearts of both Aleppo and Damascus. I guess not anymore.

jetpower3

I'm talking about the very center of the city. Up until about the end of August, there were reports of people still going to restaurants and parks every night and what not.

[QUOTE="jetpower3"]

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Anyone that's seen video of Aleppo over the last few months can see the place looks like WW2 Stalingrad. mattisgod01

I'm talking about the very center of the city. Up until about the end of August, there were reports of people still going to restaurants and parks every night and what not.

Reports from who? Syrian state TV?. Reminds me of the Iraqi Information Minister during the 2003 invasion. Making claims about Iraq repelling the invaders and denying Western reports of their advances while Abrams Tanks were practically parking behind him.

Some of it was SANA, but also some of it was from the fact that fighting until recently was localized more in the eastern, outlying districts than in the old city or the city center. Like I said, it was still a facade and it certainly now isn't any place that people with money or means to get out of there would be.

[QUOTE="jetpower3"]

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Anyone that's seen video of Aleppo over the last few months can see the place looks like WW2 Stalingrad. KC_Hokie

I'm talking about the very center of the city. Up until about the end of August, there were reports of people still going to restaurants and parks every night and what not.

Aleppo is still a fairly large city. I never said that there wasn't any fighting in Aleppo since July. It has just spread to new areas.

This subjective but somewhat helpful map might be more indicative of where the frontlines and major flashpoint districts have been.

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]

[QUOTE="jetpower3"]

I'm talking about the very center of the city. Up until about the end of August, there were reports of people still going to restaurants and parks every night and what not.

jetpower3

Aleppo is still a fairly large city. I never said that there wasn't any fighting in Aleppo since July. It has just spread to more areas.

This subjective but somewhat helpful map might be more indicative of where the frontlines and major flashpoint districts have been.

[QUOTE="mattisgod01"]

[QUOTE="jetpower3"]

I'm talking about the very center of the city. Up until about the end of August, there were reports of people still going to restaurants and parks every night and what not.

jetpower3

Reports from who? Syrian state TV?. Reminds me of the Iraqi Information Minister during the 2003 invasion. Making claims about Iraq repelling the invaders and denying Western reports of their advances while Abrams Tanks were practically parking behind him.

Some of it was SANA, but also some of it was from the fact that fighting until recently was localized more in the eastern, outlying districts than in the old city or the city center. Like I said, it was still a facade and it certainly now isn't any place that people with money or means to get out of there would be.

Maybe, Aleppo is a Big city. And the Rebels never go past a state of siege only to be repulsed.

Kind of a shame, Aleppo looks like a nice city.