Perhaps sensing that the regime was too
preoccupied
with the battle at the center, rebel fighters stormed all the border posts along the eastern frontier with Iraq. Iraqi officials said 22 Syrian border guards were summarily executed after their post was overrun. At least two other posts on the northern Turkish border were also reported to have been seized. The developments on the borders are likely to make it easier for the rebels to bring in more arms and fighters although Iraq's government, which is dominated by the Shiite majority and is sympathetic to President Assad, has threatened to close it.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed the Islamist group Hezbollah for the suicide bombing of a bus full of Israeli tourists in Bulgaria on Wednesday. Mr Netanyahu said the group based in Lebanon was being sponsored by Iran.
"Yesterday's attack in Bulgaria was
perpetrated
by Hezbollah, Iran's leading terrorist
proxy
. This attack was part of a global campaign of terror carried out by Iran and Hezbollah. Iran must be exposed by the international community as the premier terrorist-supporting state that it is."
Iran has denied any involvement in the attack. The Bulgarian authorities say a white man with long hair seen on video footage may have carried out the attack. Seven people died and more than 30 were injured in the attack in the Black Sea resort of Burgas.
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