(AP/Forbes) Albert Aji - Syrian antiterrorism police fought Islamic militants near the Defense Ministry Friday in a gunbattle that killed five people and wounded four, the government said. The official Syrian Arab News Agency said all 10 militants were members of a "takfiri" group, with a Sunni Muslim extremist ideology followed by groups such as al-Qaeda. In previous clashes, security forces have confronted Islamic militants from "Jund al-Sham," or Soldiers of Syria, formed in Afghanistan by Syrian, Palestinian, and Jordanian militants with links to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. In March, Syrian security forces killed top Jund al-Sham militant Mohammed Ali Nasif. In December, Syrian anti-terrorist forces clashed with Islamic militants in Idlib, killing five. Three others, wearing explosives' belts, blew themselves up. Also in December, Syria announced it had uncovered a bomb-making factory in Aleppo, discovering plans for attacks on public buildings and security headquarters in Syria.
2006-06-05 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive