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Terrorists Target American Embassy in Syrian Capital

Syrian security forces on Tuesday said they killed three terrorists who tried to detonate two car bombs at the U.S. embassy compound in the nation`s capital, Damascus. There were no reports of American casualties in the diplomatic neighborhood where the attack took place, though a Chinese diplomat was said to be wounded as a result of the assault. China`s embassy in Syria is down the street from the U.S. Embassy. The terrorists managed to detonate one car before a gunbattle erupted, one terrorist was reported injured and captured.

On Syria`s authoritarian government state-run television, "A terrorist operation targeted the U.S. embassy. Security forces have brought the situation under control." Syria is itself listed by the United States as a state sponsor of terrorism, with Damascus clearly implicated in an attack on former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005 which led to massive protests and the departure of Syrian troops who had occupied Lebanon for three decades or so.

The State Department confirmed that the attack took place, and that no Americans were injured. The Syrian capital has been attacked by terrorists before, and it is believed by Syrian officials that the attack on the U.S. Embassy - coming one day after the fifth anniversary commemoration of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks upon the U.S. - was committed by an off-shoot of Osama bin Laden`s al-Qaeda terror organization.