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Residential districts of Damascus and Aleppo shelled, multiple casualties reported

Thirteen dead and over 60 injured
Photo EPA/ SANA / HANDOUT
Photo EPA/ SANA / HANDOUT

DAMASCUS, October 24. (Itar-Tass) – Syrian militants have drastically increased intensity of their mortar attacks on residential districts of major Syrian cities: in the last two days 13 civilians died as a result of shelling; 61 were reported injured. Wednesday night two mortar shells exploded on a downtown Abaseen square, killing four and injuring 18.

More explosions occurred near the Sheraton hotel downtown Damascus, in front of the building for the Natural Sciences Faculty of the Damascus University. Another mortar blew up near the Exhibitions City.

Moreover, militants carried two terrorist acts, detonating a car bomb and attacking a military post. Three died and dozens were injured in these attacks.

Residential buildings were destroyed and several cars were burnt down in Aleppo, resulting in over 30 people injured and six dead.

Wednesday night terrorists attacked a gas pipeline leading to a rerouting substation, after which a large militant group attempted to enter Damascus through a highway leading to the international airport.

Combat continued until early morning; army artillery shelled terrorist packs, killing dozens. The rest have scattered and hid in adjacent farms. Currently the army is sweeping the area.

Damascus was left partially without electricity at night; however, according to the country’s Energy Minister, complete restoration of power supply of the capital and other cities, including Latakia, Tartus and Homs, will take 48 hours.