The Arab League ratcheted up the pressure on Syria on Wednesday by suspending the country’s membership and calling for urgent measures to end the escalation of months-long violence. Meanwhile, adding to the government’s woes, reports also emerged that Syrian army defectors launched an attack on an intelligence base.
The assault on the Harasta air force intelligence base is the most significant attack on a Syrian military target carried out by the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a group of army defectors, who are looking to end the rule of President Bashar al-Assad following eight months of crackdowns.
On its Facebook page, the FSA said, “Strong explosions around the complex shook its foundations,” referring to the notorious Harasta intelligence base near Aleppo.
The attack can be viewed as a significant one because the base serves as an intelligence hub for the feared air force intelligence. The strike was confirmed by the Syrian National Council, a collection of opposition groups based in Turkey.
The FSA added that it carried out multiple attacks and “special operations in several areas in Damascus in order to spoil the regime’s plans against civilians and our homeland.”
Syrian state-run media on Wednesday made no mention of the attack on the base, which is located in a relatively remote area.
The air base raid came before an urgent Arab League meeting to make a final decision on whether or not Syria should be suspended. With the suspension came sanctions and other restrictions.
Next … Arab League Ups Pressure
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