Two explosions hit the joint chiefs of staff building in Damascus
Iranian Press TV says the blasts also hit its offices
The Free Syrian Army, an armed groups battling government forces, claims responsibility
(CNN) -- Two blasts rocked a military building in the Syrian capital on Wednesday, followed by raging gunfire. A world away in New York, international leaders scrambled to find ways to end the Syrian civil war and the nation's defiant regime.
Here are the latest developments in Syria's 18-month crisis:
On the ground: More attacks
Two explosions hit a joint chiefs of staff building in Damascus on Wednesday, state media reported, the second such attack on a military building in two days.
Government officials told state television that the building suffered minimal damage and military officials are fine.
"We would like to assure all our people and all the people who love Syria in this world that everything is normal and everyone is doing well," Information Minister Omran al-Zoebi said. " It was a terrorist act, yes near a very important site but they failed as usual in achieving any of their objectives."
The Free Syrian Army, a prominent armed group battling government forces, claimed responsibility for the latest attack.
A day earlier, dual attacks rattled a Damascus school building used by Syrian intelligence. The new school year has not started.
In June, Human Rights Watch described cases of "sexual torture" at the compound reported by detainees -- many of whom were political activists or simply attended protests.
The government blamed attacks on the military sites on "terrorists," a term it consistently uses to describe anti-regime fighters.
Iranian Press TV said the latest blasts also hit its offices in Damascus. It blamed the "terrorist Free Syrian Army" for the attacks.
Iran is a major ally of Syria.
This week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told CNN's Piers Morgan that the crisis in Syria must be resolved without outside interference.
He condemned the violence, which has left more than 26,000 people dead since March 2011, according to opposition activists.
Diplomatic efforts
Arab and Western diplomats Tuesday supported a U.N. Security Council draft resolution calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down. Russia and China slammed it as meddlesome.
The Security Council is considering a draft resolution proposed by Morocco that calls for al-Assad to transfer power to his vice president. Just like past draft resolutions, China and Russia appear poised to veto it.
The resolution supports "full implementation" of an Arab League report that called on Syria to form a unity government within two months, but stopped short of supporting military intervention or economic sanctions.
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