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Syria conflict: 'Islamic State' Homs bomb attack kills 16 | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The so-called Islamic State (IS) says it was behind a bomb attack that killed at least 16 people in the government-controlled Syrian city of Homs. | |
The group said one of its militants set off the car bomb among "rafidis" - a derogatory term for Shia Muslims. | |
The attack comes just days after rebels began evacuating the area under a ceasefire deal with the government. | |
IS has been expanding towards Homs in recent months. | |
"Abu Ahmed al-Homsi parked his car in the Zahra neighbourhood and exploded it among the 'rafidis' before detonating his explosives belt," IS said in a statement. | |
It claimed to have carried out two blasts, killing more than 25 people and wounding 70. Officials say 16 people were killed in a single explosion. | |
The vehicle used was filled with 150kg (330lb) of explosives and caused a gas cylinder to blow up in a nearby shop shortly after, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (Sana) said. | |
The first bomb exploded near a hospital in the al-Zahra area on Saturday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said. | |
Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi condemned the attacks, saying they would "not discourage the Syrian people", according to Sana. | Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi condemned the attacks, saying they would "not discourage the Syrian people", according to Sana. |
Government forces were able to tighten control of Homs following the implementation of a UN-backed truce deal in al-Wair, the last rebel-held area in the city. | Government forces were able to tighten control of Homs following the implementation of a UN-backed truce deal in al-Wair, the last rebel-held area in the city. |
About 700 people, made up of rebels and their families, are thought to have left Homs and travelled to rebel-held areas of Idlib province on Wednesday. | About 700 people, made up of rebels and their families, are thought to have left Homs and travelled to rebel-held areas of Idlib province on Wednesday. |
Fighters linked to al-Qaeda were among those due to leave, but moderate groups who accepted the ceasefire were expected to remain. | Fighters linked to al-Qaeda were among those due to leave, but moderate groups who accepted the ceasefire were expected to remain. |
Homs: Syrian revolution's fallen 'capital' | Homs: Syrian revolution's fallen 'capital' |
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