Syrian Rebel Mortar Fire Hits Russian Embassy, Wounding Three

Russia Considering Enhanced Security After Latest Strike

Damascus is regularly a target of rebel attacks in the ongoing Syrian civil war, with regular mortar shelling and even suicide bombings the order of the day in even the highest security districts.

But until today, the rebels had avoided attacking the embassy district. This time, however, shelling hit the Russian Embassy in Damascus, wounding three people. None of the injuries are life-threatening, according to officials.

So far it is unclear which rebel faction was responsible for the attack, but several have threatened to target Russian interests to punish them for siding with the Syrian government in the ongoing war.

Syrian state media reported that the embassy remained open through the rest of the day in spite of the attack, and Russian officials would only say that they are considering ways to enhance security at the site.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.