TEN students were killed and others were injured by a mortar shell fired by terrorists which fell inside the cafeteria of the Faculty of Architectural Engineering in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Thursday.
The Rector of the University of Damascus, Mohammad Amer al-Mardini, said that ten students were martyred and 29 others were injured by the shell. Two of them are in critical condition.
He added: ‘No one, in any position in the world, can imagine there is a an act more criminal than this one.
‘If the aim behind this criminal act was to close the University of Damascus, with its history and deep-rootedness, then we stress that it won’t shut down in defiance of these enemies.’
The Rector offered condolences ‘to the homeland and the martyrs’ families as well as the University of Damascus over this painful tragedy,’ wishing the injured students a speedy recovery.
The mortar shell fell on the faculty’s cafeteria directly, causing material damage to the site.
An official at the Police Command in Damascus said another mortar shell fell in the surrounding of the Opera House without causing casualties, noting that two citizens were injured by two other shells which fell at the old Damascus Fair.
Syria’s Ministry of Higher Education condemned the terrorist act which led to the martyrdom of ten students and injuring others at the Architectural Engineering Faculty in Damascus.
The Ministry affirmed that Syrian Universities and institutes will remain centres for spreading science and knowledge, in addition to refuting the criminal thought practiced by the armed terrorist groups.
The Ministry offered condolences to the martyrs’ families, wishing quick recovery to the wounded students.
It announced the suspension of work in all government and private universities and higher institutes, in addition to suspending work in the governmental hospitals for five minutes at 12.00 midday today, Monday April 1, in mourning for martyrs’ souls.
Students of Damascus University organised a mourning stand for their martyred colleagues at the Faculty of Architectural Engineering, affirming that terrorism will not frighten them to continue the march of education.
The participants lit candles at the site of the terrorist attack, stressing that the blood of martyrs would not be futile.
On Friday, units of the Syrian armed forces carried out a series of operations in which they targeted dens and gatherings for armed terrorist groups in the countryside of Idleb, killing large numbers of terrorists.
One army unit targeted a Jabhat al-Nusra-linked terrorist group in Maaret al-Numan, killing a number of terrorists and injuring others.
Another army unit destroyed a missile launching base in Ma’r Shamshi village and eliminated a large number of terrorists, including a sniper.
A unit of the armed forces killed and injured a large number of terrorists in the villages of al-Amoudiyeh and Heesh.
Terrorist Abdul-Razzaq Omar al-Zouzo, leader of the so-called ‘Khattab Battalion’, was identified among the dead, in addition to Abdul-Hamid Hikmat al-Badawi, leader of the so-called ‘Al-Tawhid Brigade’ terrorist group and Abo al-Saad, leader of the so-called ‘Al-Khadraa Battalion’.
The Armed Forces also chased terrorist groups in the areas of Qastal al-Burj, al-Ghassaniyeh, Abo al-Dhuhour, Tal Salmo and al-Hamidiyeh.
A military spokesman said that ammunition warehouses and pick-up cars equipped with machine guns were destroyed in Sarmin town.
Meanwhile, units of the armed forces continued chasing the armed terrorist groups in Qareh, Yabroud and Adra in the Damascus countryside.
Large numbers of the terrorist groups were killed and others were injured in the operations.
A unit of the armed forces repelled a terrorist group attempting to cross the border from al-Kneeseh village in Lebanon into the Syrian territories near al-Buweik village in the countryside of Homs.
The army unit clashed with the terrorist group and inflicted direct blows upon its members.
Another army unit carried out an operation against an armed terrorist group affiliated to Jabhat al-Nusra in al-Marouniat village in Kinsabba area in the countryside of Lattakia.
Several members of the terrorist group were killed and injured. Terrorists Omar al-Masri, leader of the so-called ‘Omar Battalion’ was identified among the dead, in addition to terrorists Abo Turfeh and Abo Zubeideh, both of non-Syrian nationalities.
An army unit targeted a gathering for terrorists in al-Sukariyeh village in Rabi’eh area, killing a number of terrorists, all of them of non-Syrian nationalities, among them terrorists Abo Omar al-Zarqawi and Abo Bakr al-Afghani were identified.
A weapons and ammunition warehouse and three cars with heavy machine guns mounted on them were destroyed in the operation.
In the countryside of Hama, a unit of the armed forces targeted a terrorist group in Joub al-Ahmar, killing and injuring most of its members.
The terrorist group was attacking Sukari and al-Abbas villages and attempting to move to attack the area of Qumat al-Nabi Younes in Lattakia.
Five non-Syrian snipers were identified among the killed terrorists and three machine gun-equipped cars were destroyed.
Units of the armed forces inflicted heavy losses upon terrorist groups in a series of operations targeting their gatherings in Jouber, al-Eb farms and al-Eteibeh in the Damascus countryside.
A number of terrorists were killed and injured near Tibeh Mosque and in the eastern part in Jouber neighbourhood.
Terrorist Ammar Tayan, leader of a terrorist group was identified among the dead.
An army unit destroyed a den containing weapons, ammunition and vehicles used by terrorists in building barriers in the neighbourhood.
In the meantime, an army unit carried out a special operation in the al-Eb farms in eastern Ghouta targeting a gathering for terrorists with all weapons, ammunition and terrorists inside.
Another army unit clashed with terrorist groups in the middle of al-Eteibeh town and killed many of their members, including Akram al-J’eidani, leader of a terrorist group.
In another context, an army unit destroyed a workshop for manufacturing explosive devices in the farms surrounding the city of Adra with all terrorists and bombs inside.
Several terrorists were killed and injured in the operation, and army soldiers foiled attempts to detonate a number of roadside bombs planted by terrorists along roads in the city surrounding.
An army unit eliminated leaders of armed terrorist groups and destroyed a number of their vehicles and equipment in the city of al-Nabek.
