4th member of Assad regime, Syria security chief Gen. Hisham Ikhtiyar, dies after Damascus bombing

A U.N. observer vehicle arrives at the site where a bomb attack hit the National Security building in Damascus, Syria, July 18, 2012. / AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi

(CBS/AP) DAMASCUS, Syria - Syria's national security chief has died of wounds suffered in a rebel blast on Wednesday, the fourth senior regime official to be killed by the attack.

Gen. Hisham Ikhtiyar is the fourth member of President Bashar Assad's inner circle to die after the bombing that targeted security chiefs meeting in the national security headquarters in Damascus.

Ikhtiyar died Friday morning, according to Syria's state-run television network.

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The others killed in the blast were Gen. Assef Shawkat, the deputy defense minister who was married to Assad's elder sister, Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha and Hassan Turkmani, a former defense minister.

[euge005]

Good work, it will save the people there another war crimes trial when they win their freedom. Bully for them and best wishes.

[fredisalive]

long live the revolution!

[notparicular]

I hope Assad speds down, leaves the country to a safe home. This will stop more bloodshedding. Only, the same western countries, including the US, should step in and negotiate with the rebels to stop any revenge.

[euge005]

You might have been right 6 months ago, but now there will be pay back. The small religious minority that support him will be exterminated.

[Roger_de_Coverly]

Couldn't happen to a nicer group of fellows.

[GeorgeKafantaris]

Russia and China had a chance to be part of the solution in Syria. ?Over and over they have refused -- with no convincing reasons.?
This left the Syrian regime to continue its brutal crackdown that demoralized?the people and accelerated the defections. It even brought in outside Arabs to Syria for help. ?
No peaceful solution now seems workable and the fast changing events on the ground are likely to determine the fate of both Assad and Syria.?
In the end Russia and China may again be left on the outside looking in.?
If you can't beat them you join them. ?But paranoia in totalitarian regimes gets in the way to?understanding that.

[dv9516]

Oh theres a reason. Its naive to think there isnt a reason china and russia would not want the americans spreading their influence in an oil exporting nation. Russia has a military base in syria and china needs for its own world influence to grow as the country grows. simple. but in the mean time little school children are gettin caught in the crossfire.