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On August 4 morning, a shuttle bus of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) blew up at the gate of the Republican Guard Residences in the northern part of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, the bus driver, a service member, was killed and three soldiers were wounded in the explosion
The state-run news agency said that the explosion was caused by a “short circuit” in the bus’s engine, without providing any further details.
Click to see full-size image.
Click to see full-size image.
Later, however, al-Qaeda-affiliated Horas al-Din, that is based in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, claimed responsibility for the deadly explosion. In a statement, the terrorist group said that it cells blew up the bus in support of former rebels in the southern governorate of Daraa, who are being pressured by the SAA.
“We call on all Mujahedeen in the land of Sham [Syria] to return to the original line of Jihad,” the statement reads.
Tahir al-Omar, a propagandist for Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, casted doubt on Horas al-Din claims. Al-Omar noted that the terrorist group is not even fighting on Greater Idlib frontlines anymore.
Nevertheless, Abu Al-Fath Al-Farghali, a senior Egyptian leader of HTS, praised Horas al-Din for the alleged attack “behind enemy lines”.
Last year, HTS de-facto neutralized Horas al-Din after a series of security operations and arrests in Greater Idlib. Horas al-Din announcement may be a propaganda stunt meant to embarrass HTS, which is being criticized by radicals for not doing enough for Daraa.
Regardless of the foreign backed faction that claims responsibility, the SAA & allies have full advantage.
Indeed. It is hard road for righteous.