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July 20, 2012

Syrian Intelligence Chief Dies from Attack Injuries; Rebels Seize Border Crossings 
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Syrian rebels continue to make gains on the regime of Basher al-Assad,
seizing a number of border crossings with neighboring Iraq and Turkey.
Opposition fighters overrun government forces at two major crossings,
including one controlling the vital trade route on the Damascus to
Baghdad highway. Meanwhile, the Syrian government says the country's
intelligence chief, Hisham Ikhtiyar, has died from injuries sustained in
Wednesday's bombing of a high-level meeting in Damascus, making him the
fourth Assad regime insider to die in the attack. Amidst the violence,
the United Nations is warning one million Syrians are now believed to be
internally displaced, double the previous estimate.

 

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