Syrian security forces clashed Monday with gunmen in an upscale neighborhood of the capital Damascus killing at least three people.
The fight broke out when security forces stormed an apartment used as a hideout by an “armed terrorist” group in Mazzeh after evacuating the building of all inhabitants.
The forces allegedly killed two of the gunmen and arrested the third while a member of the security forces also lost his life.
A resident of the western Mazzeh district said automatic rifles and machine guns were used in the two-hour clash that ended at about 4 a.m. local time. “We also heard three strong explosions,” said the man who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisal.
He added that the clash was close to the Swiss embassy and the home of Maj. Gen. Assef Shawkat, the deputy chief of staff for security affairs who is married to President Bashar Assad’s sister, Bushra.
Armed rebels are active in Damascus’ suburbs and satellite towns but rarely venture into the heart of the capital where Assad’s troops are deployed in force.
The new fight shows that rebels can still strike in the heart of the capital despite successful government offensive in the past weeks in the suburbs of Damascus, in the central city of Homs and the northern region of Idlib.
An activist in the capital said the clashes occurred near the Political Security Directorate building. He said the clashes were followed with raids by security forces who were searching for the attackers.
On Saturday, three suicide bombings in Damascus killed 27 people. Two of them also targeted government security buildings.
On Sunday, an explosion killed two and wounded 30 in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest.