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Syrian military base attacked
Syrian army defectors have attacked a major military base near Damascus, a Syrian opposition group says.
An attack on the Harasta base would be significant because Syria's Air Force Intelligence is one of the most feared state agencies and has been involved in the suppression of protests against President Bashar al-Assad
The BBC reported that parts of the Air Force Intelligence building in Harasta were destroyed in the overnight attack, said the Syrian Revolution General Commission.
The Free Syrian Army used rockets and machine-guns, it said, in its highest-profile attack since protests began.
It comes as the Arab League prepares to discuss its response to the crackdown on anti-government unrest in Syria.
The Syrian government has severely restricted access for foreign journalists, and reports of violence are extremely difficult to verify.
The UN says more than 3,500 people have died since protests started in March. The Syrian authorities blame the violence on armed gangs and militants.
An attack on the Harasta base would be significant because Syria's Air Force Intelligence is one of the most feared state agencies and has been involved in the suppression of protests against President Bashar al-Assad.
The Arab League will formally suspend Syria's membership at its meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, and will discuss other ways of increasing pressure on Assad's regime.
Syria, which will not attend the meeting, has condemned the suspension as "shameful and malicious", accusing other Arab countries of conspiring with the West to undermine the regime.
