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Three top Syrian security officials were killed and others injured when an explosion ripped through the national intelligence headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday, dealing a strong blow to the Syrian leadership, which pledged a tough response to the attack.

Syrian Defense Minister Dawood Rajha, his deputy, Assef Shawkat, and senior military official Hassan Turkmani were killed in the bombing during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials. Shawkat is also Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law.

The attack is the first of its kind in targeting high-profile figures in the capital, which has been rocked by intense clashes since Sunday.

Hours after the bombing, Syria named Fahd Jassem al-Freij, former army chief of staff, as the new defense minister. The authority vowed to "continue fighting terrorism" and to punish those responsible for the bomb attack, saying it would "chop any hand that harms national security".

"Whoever thinks that by targeting some commanders they can twist Syria's arm is delusional," a military statement read out on state television said.

Two opposition Islamist groups, Liwa al-Islam and the Free Syrian Army, claimed responsibility for the attack shortly after the explosion, hailing it as a successful strike at the heart of the government.

"God willing, this is the beginning of the end of the regime," Syria's rebel commander, Riad al-Asaad, told The Associated Press.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday that the situation in Syria appeared to be "spinning out of control".

The loss of top security aides is a serious attack on Assad, said Li Huaxin, former Chinese ambassador to Syria. "The country's situation is deteriorating with opposition parties' stronger military provocation."

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.