Syrian president’s brother-in-law dies in attack

This undated photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Dawoud Rajha in Damascus, Syria. Syria's state-run TV says the country's defense minister has been killed in a suicide blast in the capital. Wednesday's attack struck the National Security building in Damascus during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials. (AP Photo/SANA)

BEIRUT— Syria’s state-run TV says President Bashar Assad’s brother-in-law is among the dead in a suicide bombing in Damascus.

Gen. Assef Shawkat was the deputy defense minister in Syria. He was among the most feared figures in Assad’s inner circle. He is married to Assad’s elder sister, Bushra.

Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha also was killed in Wednesday’s blast. The interior minister was wounded.

State-TV says the bomber struck the National Security building during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials.