Mortar attacks and assassination in Syria

Turkish officials announce they are looking into deploying Patriot missile batteries along the Turkey-Syria border, a move that could provide a safe-haven to Syrian rebels by creating a no-fly zone over northern Syria. Coming hours after the re-election of President Obama, the announcement raised speculation the United States and its allies were working on a more robust plan to deal with the 20-month-old conflict in Syria. Reports that British Prime Minister David Cameron will open direct lines of communication with Syrian rebels also fueled speculations. The developments come in the middle of escalating attacks by Syrian insurgents. The rebels blew up a judge and a judge who is also top Assad loyalist in his car-  the second high-profile killing of a Syrian official. The insurgents also intensified attacks by lobbing mortar shells at a neighborhood that houses central government offices and a military airfield.


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