SYRIA: U.S., ISRAEL TO BLAME FOR DAMASCUS ISLAMIST UPRISING

'US, Israel behind Damascus attack' (YNet)

 

Syria's state-run media on Saturday implicitly blamed the recent militant attack in Damascus on the United States, Israel and their supporters in the region. The accusation came a day after security forces fought Islamic militants near the Defense Ministry in a gunbattle that left four militants and a police officer dead, the government said.  Six insurgents, including two who were wounded, were captured and two policemen were also injured.

"What happened in the heart of Damascus is a practical translation of the American-Israeli threats. Targeting Syria is still an official policy of the U.S. Administration, the Tel Aviv leaders and some weak-willed people who have sold themselves for evil in exchange of a handful of dollars," state-run Tishrin daily said in an editorial.

 

The United States blames Syria for backing militant groups such as the Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as Lebanon's Hezbollah. America also accused Syria of allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq, an accusation the Arab state denies.

 

Syria's official news agency, SANA, said all 10 militants in Friday's attack were members of a "Takfiri" Group. "Takfiri" Refers to Sunni Muslim extremists who declare that non-radical Muslims are infidels.