Rebels Kill Four Generals, 27 Troops, in Damascus Bomb Blast

Syrian rebels dealt a deadly and psychological to the Assad regime Sunday by apparently breaching security at a government building and setting off a blast that killed four generals and 27 soldiers, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Unconfirmed sources said the death was 75.

The attack was carried out in  the Damascus suburb of Harasta, northeast of the capital, and blunted the recent offensive by forces loyal to Syrian President Bassar al-Assad.

A director of the Observatory said that if the bomb had gone off an hour earlier, when afternoon staff were posted, the death toll could have reached 200. The bomb brought down the entire building and was detonated in a tunnel under or inside the building, indicating that the rebels had been able foil security.