Syrian rebels will intensify attacks inside the capital Damascus and target sensitive security installations in what they call an operation to “liberate Damascus,” a rebel commander told Reuters on Tuesday.

Colonel Qassem Saadeddine, spokesman of the joint command of the Free Syrian Army inside Syria, told Reuters that many fighters arrived in Damascus from several provinces 10 days ago to take part in the operation and more would be sent soon.

“There is no going back. The Damascus battle has priority for us. We have started the operation to liberate Damascus,” Saadeddine said, adding the rebels had called their operation “Damascus volcano and Syrian earthquake.”

Rebels and government troops have clashed in the streets of Damascus for three days, in the fiercest fighting in the capital since the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad erupted last year.

“This has been planned for some time now. We sent many groups and fighters to Damascus and its suburbs 10 days ago. We have sent at least 50 groups, each with around 50 fighters,” Saadeddine emphasized.

He added, “We will hit security buildings. There is major coordination between all military councils regarding this. We will not stop, there is no return.”

The Israeli army intelligence chief said on Tuesday that Assad has pulled troops from the Israeli border to defend Damascus against rebels.

“The Syrian military is acting very brutally, which shows the regime is desperate. Its control of Damascus is getting weaker,” Major- General Aviv Kochavi told a parliamentary committee.

“Assad has moved many of his forces that were in the Golan Heights to the conflict areas," Kochavi said. (IsraelNationalNews © 2011 07/18/12)