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IS bombings of restaurants in Syria kill 16 in northern city IS bombings of restaurants in Syria kill 16 in northern city
(about 5 hours later)
BEIRUT — The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed responsibility for the bombing of two restaurants in a predominantly Kurdish city in northeastern Syria the previous night, an attack that killed at least 16 people and wounded 35. BEIRUT — The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed the bombing of two restaurants in a predominantly Kurdish city in northeastern Syria the previous night, an attack that killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 30.
Syria’s state news agency SANA said the “terrorist explosions” hit the Shiyahi area, a Christian neighborhood, late Wednesday in the city of Qamishli. A poster hung up at a local church said 13 of the victims were Christians, and that their funerals would take place later Thursday. Syria’s state news agency SANA said the “terrorist explosions” hit a Christian neighborhood in the city of Qamishli. A poster hung up at a local church said 13 of the victims were Christians, and that their funerals would take place later Thursday.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bombs went off in the city center, near a security point run by government troops. The bombs went off in the city center, near a security point run by government troops, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists and other sources inside Syria. It said the death toll rose to 18 after two more people died of their wounds. SANA still put the toll at 16.
A claim of responsibility by the Islamic State group circulated on social media. The group has been fighting Kurdish fighters in Syria since last year and the extremists have carried out dozens of suicide attacks against the Kurds, including several in Qamishli. A claim of responsibility by the Islamic State group later circulated on social media. The extremists have suffered some of their worst setbacks in battles with Kurdish fighters in Syria, and have carried out dozens of suicide attacks against the Kurds, including several in Qamishli.
The Kurdish fighters, aided by U.S.-led airstrikes, have also captured significant territory from IS in northern Syria. The Kurdish fighters, aided by U.S.-led airstrikes, have captured significant territory from IS in northern Syria.
Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi strongly condemned the explosions, which targeted the Miami and Gabriel restaurants in Qamishli, saying that they reveal the “brutality of criminal gangs.”Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi strongly condemned the explosions, which targeted the Miami and Gabriel restaurants in Qamishli, saying that they reveal the “brutality of criminal gangs.”
“These terrorist explosions will make us more determined and firm for confrontation to liberate every part of Syrian land,” he said in remarks carried by SANA.“These terrorist explosions will make us more determined and firm for confrontation to liberate every part of Syrian land,” he said in remarks carried by SANA.
The news agency said the blasts also severely damaged the restaurants’ buildings. Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government uses the term “terrorist” to refer to any armed group or organization fighting against his rule, whether it’s a militant or a rebel group. The news agency said the blasts also severely damaged the restaurants’ buildings. Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government uses the term “terrorist” to refer to all of those fighting against his rule.
Elsewhere in Syria, two days of air strikes on IS-controlled areas around the ancient Roman city of Palmyra killed at least 15 people, including at least one woman, the Observatory said. Palmyra and its famed ruins, once a major tourist draw, fell to IS in May.
Fighting between pro-government forces and Islamic State militants continued around Homs province, where Palmyra is located, with bombs striking a salt factory, a hospital wing, and other targets, the Observatory said.
Separately, the Observatory released its tally of this year’s deaths in the civil war, saying a total of 55,219 people were killed in 2015.
Some 20,000 of those were civilians, including 2,574 children, while 7,728 were rebel combatants and some 16,000 were government troops and allied militiamen.
Lebanon’s Shiite movement Hezbollah lost 378 fighters in Syria in 2015, it added.
Syria’s conflict began with largely peaceful protests in 2011 against the rule of President Bashar Assad, which quickly escalated into civil war following a harsh crackdown on dissent. The conflict has killed more than 250,000 people and generated a massive refugee crisis.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.