Damascus bombing 'smells of Mossad,' US analyst says

WASHINGTON

An image grab from video, released by the Syrian opposition Shaam News Network on July 20, 2012 and dated July 19, 2012, shows an explosion alleged to be in Zabadani, outside Damascus. AFP photo

A former U.S. intelligence analyst said Israeli spy network Mossad could be linked to a fatal bombing that killed top security officials in Damascus on July 18.
 
An unidentified former analyst said "the entire attack smelled of Mossad," according to Kasım Cindemir of daily Habertürk.
 
Members of the Syrian opposition reportedly claimed Israel played an important part in the attack, with some saying they received satellite images from Mossad showing the building where Syria's National Security Council meeting took place.
 
Free Syrian Army officials had said the attack was not a suicide bombing and they had placed the explosives in the meeting room "days ago." Louay al-Mokdad of the opposition force reportedly said they had placed 10 kilograms of C-4 explosives in the meeting room beforehand and that they intended to hit the meeting on its originally planned date of July 20. Al-Mokdad said the meeting was brought forward one day and that President Bashar al-Assad did not take part in it as they had anticipated. 
 
Syrian Information Minister Umran al-Zuabi blamed foreign intelligence agencies for the bombing, saying "Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Israel" were the forces behind the attack.