SATURDAY’S DEVELOPMENTS

» Rebels threatened to storm Mahrada and Sqailbiyeh — two predominantly Christian towns in a central region — if residents do not “evict” government troops they say are using the towns as a base to attack nearby areas. » The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a car bomb went off in the Damascus neighborhood of Qaboun, killing at least five people and wounding others. » Also in Damascus, the state-run news agency SANA said gunmen assassinated a cameraman for the government’s TV station, the latest such killing in recent months. » Elsewhere, the Syrian army said it had repelled a rebel attack on a military base that killed a regimental commander in the Damascus suburb of Chebaa. » Eleven rebel groups said they have formed a new coalition, the Syrian Islamic Front. A statement issued by the new group, dated Dec. 21, described it as “a comprehensive Islamic front that adopts Islam as a religion, doctrine, approach and conduct” and said it will work to avoid differences or disputes with the other Islamic groups.