A large explosion was detonated earlier Wednesday morning 27 Menachem Av 5772 in Central Damascus. The explosion has been confirmed to be a terror attack apparently directed against UN officials operating in the area. Syria’s state-run media reports a number of people have been injured but Israel Radio, quoting foreign media sources reports over ten fatalities. Accurate information is not available as there are no legitimate members of the press permitted in the area, now dominated by members of Syria’s state run media.

The blast seems to have targeted the Dama Rose Hotel used by UN observer forces. It is unclear if the hotel of an adjoining military facility was hit but it is reported that there were many people present when a very powerful bomb was detonated.

Officials of the Free Syria Army report the bomb targeted an “operational meeting” that was taking place at the location when the bomb was detonated. It appears the bomb was detonated directly adjacent to a fuel truck, significantly increasing the impact of the explosion.

AP reports the bomb was detonated in a parking area that is a UN military compound located directly next to the hotel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)