A pair of mortar shells hit near the Syrian government's parliament building in central Damascus on Monday killing five people, state media reported.
Syria's state SANA news agency said the mortars hit some 320 feet (100 meters) from the parliament in the Salihiya area of Damascus early on Monday morning, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but in the past, Syrian rebel groups have targeted government-controlled areas of the captial with mortar shells. According to AP, the rebel groups say these attacks are punishment for the actions of Syrian government troops who have besieged rebel-held areas, denying civilians of food, water and medical aid. Regime airstrikes have also resulted in barrel bombs being dropped on residential areas.
The Syrian crisis is now in its fourth year and has killed over 150,000 people and forced one-third of the country's population from their homes.
