Bloody fighting marks start of Ramadan in Syria

The bloodiest day of fighting yet occurred in Syria on Thursday. And today, Syrian tanks have driven rebels out of a Damascus neighborhood that saw heavy fighting throughout the week. Another member of basher Assad's inner circle has also died from wounds sustained in Wednesday's suicide attack. 

LOS ANGLES, CA (Catholic Online) - Assad's position now appears much weaker than it was just six days ago when a battle between government forces and rebels began in a Damascus neighborhood. After days of intense fighting that has left hundreds dead, Syrian tanks finally succeeded in blasting and driving rebels from their positions. 

On Thursday at least 300 people were killed in fighting making it the bloodiest day yet in the conflict that has been ongoing since March 2011.

However, the victory for Assad's forces appears small. Meanwhile, Assad's national security chief, General Hisham Ikhtiyar, has died from wounds sustained in Wednesday's suicide bombing that killed other members of Assad's inner circle including his brother-in-law. 

That bombing has crippled the Assad regime by killing key insiders, and has shaken confidence that Assad remains safe and untouchable. It has also galvanized support for the rebels who sense that victory may now be possible. 

Earlier in the week, rebel forces overran several border outposts on the Syrian-Turkish border allowing reinforcements and supplies to enter the country. 

Efforts to peacefully stem the violence have come to nothing as another UN Security Council resolution designed to apply pressure to Assad's regime, was vetoed by Russia and China. 

They Syrian regime is beginning to look increasingly isolated from its people particularly as the government announced they would observe the start of Ramadan on Saturday, consistent with the Shiite practice of Iran. Meanwhile, many of the people in Syria are starting their observances on Friday. 

Despite the arrival of the holy month and the recent regime victory in Damascus, rebels are already making new attacks on the capital. Several districts have reported clashes today and a police station was reportedly among the targeted locations.

Read more: Six unsavory fates for Assad.

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