海角大神

鈥� A daily summary of global reports on security issues.

Twin car bombs detonated in Damascus today, along with two blasts in nearby suburbs, killing and injuring scores 聽鈥� events whose grim familiarity underscores the unexpectedly protracted nature of Syria鈥檚 civil war, now in its 21st month.聽

"We no longer count the days," Ramiz Moussa, a rebel fighter and former civil servant told the Associated Press. "Today we're in a battle, but we can't remember when it started, much less the past battles. You could ask me what day it is, but I can't tell you."

What started out as political protests during the 2011 Arab uprisings segued into a brutal crackdown by government forces, and then today's bloody civil war that opposition groups say has claimed between 30,000 and 40,000 lives.

"At the start, I never imagined it would last this long," another rebel fighter, Abdulllah Qadi, told the AP. "We have been at it for 20 months and we could be at it for 20 more. All we can do is keep fighting."

Today鈥檚 car bombs all detonated聽within a span of five minutes in an area of the city that鈥檚 home to 海角大神s and Druze, groups largely seen as supporters of President Bashar al-Assad鈥檚 regime, according to a separate AP report. Though no one immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts, state media said the attacks were the work of 鈥渢errorists,鈥� a term frequently used to describe rebel fighters. Some speculate that the 鈥済overnment is behind the blasts as a way of spreading fear among Syria's minorities,鈥� reports the Guardian.

Recent reports show rebel groups gaining ground against Assad鈥檚 regime in parts of the country, with a diplomat in Damascus telling Reuters that "there is a sense that the flames are licking at the door.鈥�

Today鈥檚 bombings, which shattered windows in nearby buildings and scattered debris through the street, have raised concerns of 鈥渁 rising Islamic militant element among the forces seeking to topple Assad,鈥� reports the AP.

Numerous car bombs and attacks have taken place in downtown, particularly since last December, reports the AP. These attacks have largely focused on regime targets, including 鈥渟tate security institutions and troops, as well as areas with homes of wealthy Syrians, army officers, security officials and other members of the regime.鈥�

The conflict has not only destroyed Syrians' lives 鈥� in addition to the tens of thousands killed, there are an estimated 458,555 refugees, according to the United Nations refugee agency 鈥� but the infrastructure of the country as well.聽 The impact will extend beyond Syrians' day-to-day struggles, undermining the potential to rebuild post-conflict.聽鈥淢uch of Syria has become a disaster zone,鈥� reports the Los Angeles Times.

More than 2.9 million homes, mosques, schools, churches, and hospitals have been reported destroyed or damaged since the conflict began, according to the September estimates of the opposition group Syrian Network for Human Rights.

Another 600,000 structures have been reported damaged or destroyed since then.