The General Authority of the Syrian Revolution said a Syrian army colonel and five other elements of the Syrian regime forces were killed in a blast that took place near Abassiyein Square in central Damascus, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.

The all-news network quoted the Authority as saying that an explosive charge was planted under the car of Colonel Raef Ali Hassan and was remotely detonated.

Meanwhile, opposition factions announced the killing of scores of militias of Hezbollah and the Syrian regime forces in attack on the southern front of Zebdani city.

Clashes have been going on between opposition factions and the Syrian regime forces in Rif Idlib as the Syrian warplanes carried out raids on Fatatera village and its neighborhood, leaving a number of persons injured and inflicted material damage on the targets.

The first defections from the Syrian army during the Syrian uprising may have occurred end of April 2011 when the army was sent into Daraa to quell ongoing protests. There were reports that some units refused to fire on protesters and had split from the army. Video footage showed civilians helping defecting soldiers who had been shot for refusing orders.

Source: MENA