President Assad pictured praying after oppositions claims it shelled his motorcade

President Assad pictured praying after oppositions claims it shelled his motorcade. Credit: Reuters/Sana

Syria's information minister has denied that President Bashar al-Assad's motorcade in Damascus was hit by rebels.

Rebel fighters in Syria claimed they managed to shell the President's motorcade.

ITV News Middle East Correspondent Geraint Vincent reports:

Members of the Tahrir al-Sham rebel brigade claimed they fired several artillery shells towards Assad's convoy in the heart of the capital and that at least some hit their target.

Video footage distributed by the brigade showed smoke rising from what it said was the Malki district, where Assad and his close aides have homes. But Syria's government has denied the reports of an attack on the president.

"The news is wholly untrue," Information Minister Omran Zoabi said. State television showed him unharmed and praying in.

Syrian television showed footage of President Bashar al-Assad praying at a Damascus mosque following the reports.