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In a tremendous blow to the regime of Bashar al-Assad, a suicide bomber struck a national security meeting in the Syrian capital today, killing Assad's brother-in-law, Assef Shawkat, and Syrian Defense Minister Dawoud Rajiha, two of the highest-ranking members of the regime. A third member of the team, a top ranking general, also died from his wounds. Read below for earlier updates

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Update (8:30 a.m.): Several Syrian rebel groups have claimed responsibility for the attack, but one says it was not a suicide bomb. They say the explosives were planted in room ahead of the meeting.

Update (7:28 a.m.): Syrian state TV confirms that Assad's brother-in-law, Shawkat, was killed in the bombing, according to Reuters. There also questions about whether the attacker blew himself up or planted the bomb and also began shooting. In any event, the attack appears to be the work of an insider and an ominous threat to anyone else in the regime.

Update (6:56 a.m.): Hezbollah's al-Manar television in Lebanon is reporting that Shawkat has died as well.

Update (6:43 a.m.): Among the injured is Assef Shawkat, another top minister and the brother-in-law of President Bashar Al-Assad. It appears that the targets of today's bombing are essentially the same group of people who were Among the injured is Assef Shawkat, another top minister and the brother-in-law of President Bashar Al-Assad. It appears that the targets of today's bombing are essentially the same group of people who were allegedly poisoned at an earlier meeting back in May. As in the earlier attack, a bodyguard of one of the ministers is accused of being the perpetrator.

Update: Syrian state TV has reported that the Syrian defense minister, General Dawoud Rajiha, was killed today after a suicide bomber struck a government building. The Interior Minister & intelligence chief were also injured, according to Al Jazeera.