Syria: Oil Pipeline Blown Up in Rebel City of Homs as Forces Move Further Into Capital Damascus
An explosion hit a major oil pipeline in a rebel-held district of Homs this morning as the Syrian government’s bombardment of the city entered its 13th day.
Elite forces backed by armoured personnel carriers also stormed part of Damascus today, firing machine guns in the air, in the closest deployment of troops to the centre of the capital in the 11-month uprising.
Meanwhile, troops launched a new offensive on the city of Hama, firing on residential neighbourhoods from armoured vehicles and mobile anti-aircraft guns.
The escalation of the conflict comes as France’s foreign minister announced it had started negotiating a new UN Security Council resolution on Syria with Russia and wanted to discuss creating ‘humanitarian corridors’ in the country.
China, which along with Russia vetoed a resolution earlier this month, was quick to warn that mistakes by the UN Security Council could worsen the bloodshed.
Britain and U.S. join forces to demand further action at the UN as Syria continues bombardment of Homs for ELEVENTH day
The leader of a global Islamic group also stressed that the international community must rule out military intervention as a solution to the crisis.
In Washington, a State Department official said the U.S. and its allies were closely monitoring Syria’s stockpiles of chemical arms and portable anti-aircraft missiles amid concerns they could fall into the hands of militant groups.
The attack on the oil pipeline, near a large Sunni Muslim district, sent thick, black smoke billowing into the sky for several hours after the blast.