Syrian rebels blew up an army checkpoint outside Damascus and more than 30 combatants from both sides died in the blast and ensuing clashes.
The pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 15 rebels and at least 16 soldiers were killed.
The British-based Observatory said the checkpoint explosion,near the suburbs of Mleiha and Jaramana, was detonated by a suicide bomber from the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.
Nusra supporters on Twitter, however, said the bomber had intended to blow himself up in the car, but instead got out before setting off the explosives inside.
They said rebel forces had captured the checkpoint hit by the car bomb and were battling to take a second one nearby.
Syrian state television reported the blast but gave no death toll, saying only that several people had been killed or wounded in a "terrorist bombing".
The Observatory, which has a network of activists across Syria, said Syrian fighter jets retaliated by striking nearby opposition-held areas such as Mleiha.
Video uploaded by activists showed a huge column of smoke billowing up from the scene, and the sound of fighter jets streaking overhead could be heard. Read More Original Post
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