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Syria Fires Scud Missiles at Rebels

Obama officials say it's significant escalation.

Syrian forces have fired scud missiles at the rebels, U.S. officials say. Scud missiles have a range of more than 400 miles—well in range of neighboring countries. The shots were reportedly fired from around Damascus and aimed at targets in the north. Scuds are Soviet-era weaponry made famous by Saddam Hussein in 1991, when the ruler battered Israel and Kuwait. U.S. officials say that the tactic is mainly used as a defense mechanism—experts say government aircraft have been vulnerable to attacks. The news of “significant escalation” comes as more than 100 nations recognized the rebels as representatives of the Syrian people.