Insurgents shell Russian embassy in Syria during rally
By Associated Press
Oct 13, 2015 3:10 AM CDT
FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2011 file photo, supporters of the Syrian government hold a pro-Russian banner as they show their support for Syrian President Bashar Assad and to thank Russia and China for blocking a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Syria for its brutal crackdown, during a demonstration...   (Associated Press)

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Insurgents have fired two shells at the Russian embassy in the Syrian capital as scores of pro-government supporters gathered outside the compound to thank Moscow for its intervention in Syria.

An Associated Press reporter was outside the embassy on Tuesday morning when the first shell slammed into the compound in central Damascus and smoke billowed from inside.

As people started running away, another shell hit the area.

It was not immediately clear if there were casualties.

Opposition fighters in the suburbs of the capital have targeted the embassy in the past but it was not clear if Tuesday's attack targeted the rally.

Russia began launching airstrikes against insurgents in Syria on Sept. 30.