UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday condemned "in the strongest terms" the latest attacks in Syria and called on the government and opposition groups to resist provocations that could undermine peace efforts. Ban called the attacks "horrendous acts of terror against innocent civilians" and reiterated that no one can achieve a military victory in the Syrian war. In a statement issued by his office, the UN chief urged all Syrian and international actors to "put their difference aside" and to "exercise humility and bravery" to work together to stop the violence and achieve a political solution to the "heart-breaking situation in Syria." A car bombing and mortar shelling Tuesday in the Zahara neighborhood of Homs killed and wounded dozens of people. In Damascus, additional mortar fire targeted civilian areas, hitting a technical institute. Ban again appealed to all parties "to at last live up to their responsibility under humanitarian law and stop targeting civilian areas," including through aerial bombardments and barrel bombs.
