Syrians Foil Strike on U.S. Embassy
CAIRO — Four suspected Islamic militants hurled hand grenades and sprayed machine-gun fire in an attempt to storm the American Embassy in Damascus on Tuesday, but were gunned down by Syrian forces.
The brazen morning attack in the Syrian capital seemed to briefly ease tensions between Washington and Damascus, as U.S. officials thanked Syria for defending the embassy. But the attack also raised questions about President Bashar Assad's grip on security, and his regime's relationship with extremist groups.
"We appreciate the response of the Syrian security forces to help secure our territory," said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking at an appearance in Stellarton, Canada. "I do think that the Syrians reacted to this attack in a way that helped to secure our people, and we very much appreciate that."
Other Bush administration officials, however, referred to long-standing tensions with Syria, which remains on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism.
"The Syrian police forces did their job, and they were professional about it," said White House Press Secretary Tony Snow. "Now, the next step is for Syria to play a constructive role in the war on terror. Stop harboring terrorist groups, stop being an agent in fomenting terror, and work with us to fight against terror, as Libya has done. That's the next step for Syria."
The Syrian government blamed the bungled attack on a little-known hard-line Sunni militant group that calls itself Jund al Sham, or Soldiers of the Levant, allegedly linked to the Al Qaeda terrorist network.
"It's clearly a terrorist operation," said Interior Minister Gen. Bassam Abdel Majeed.
Three of the militants were killed and a fourth was captured in the morning shootout, which also killed a Syrian security officer and wounded 11 bystanders. Timed explosives rigged to a stolen van at the embassy gate failed to go off and were detonated later by Syrian anti-terrorism agents, the interior minister told state television.
Political analyst Ayman Abdel Nour said he had just climbed out of his car to go see about a visa when a car pulled over outside the embassy and four gunmen leapt out. At first, Nour said, he was confused.
"I thought they were filming a scene for something, because it was the middle of the day, in the middle of the most secure area in Damascus," he said. "Then one of them fell down near me and I saw the blood. I realized it was serious, so I ran and hid."
