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Syria conflict: IS claims wave of bombings that kills dozens | |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 40 people have been killed in bombings in mainly government-held areas of Syria, state media report. | |
Four attacks took place within an hour of each other in Tartous, Homs and in a western suburb of Damascus, with one in Hassakeh, dominated by Kurdish forces. | |
The deadliest incident was outside Tartous, home to a Russian naval base and in the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect. | The deadliest incident was outside Tartous, home to a Russian naval base and in the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect. |
The Islamic State (IS) group said it was behind the attacks. | The Islamic State (IS) group said it was behind the attacks. |
The group made the claim in a statement carried by its affiliated news agency, Amaq. | The group made the claim in a statement carried by its affiliated news agency, Amaq. |
'Crowd targeted' | 'Crowd targeted' |
The attacks took place between 08:00 and 09:00 (05:00-06:00 GMT) on Monday. | |
Syria's official Sana news agency reported that 30 civilians had been killed and 45 others injured in the Tartous countryside. | |
First, a car bomb was detonated on the Arzoneh motorway bridge, a local police source told Sana. | First, a car bomb was detonated on the Arzoneh motorway bridge, a local police source told Sana. |
Then, as a crowd gathered at the scene to help the wounded, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt, the source added. | Then, as a crowd gathered at the scene to help the wounded, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt, the source added. |
Tartous had been relatively unscathed by Syria's five-year civil war until May, when a suicide bomb attack on a bus station by IS militants left dozens dead. | Tartous had been relatively unscathed by Syria's five-year civil war until May, when a suicide bomb attack on a bus station by IS militants left dozens dead. |
In the central city of Homs, four people were killed and 10 injured when a car bomb exploded at the entrance to the Bab Tadmour district, Sana reported. | In the central city of Homs, four people were killed and 10 injured when a car bomb exploded at the entrance to the Bab Tadmour district, Sana reported. |
The governor of Homs province said the car bomb targeted a military checkpoint and that the casualties were soldiers. | The governor of Homs province said the car bomb targeted a military checkpoint and that the casualties were soldiers. |
One person was killed in a bombing on a road in Saboura, a heavily-guarded western suburb of Damascus, a police source told Sana. | |
Opposition activist Yousef al-Boustani said the area was home to security officers and their families and that the attack represented a major security breach. | Opposition activist Yousef al-Boustani said the area was home to security officers and their families and that the attack represented a major security breach. |
In Hassakeh, an explosives-packed motorcycle was blown up at the Marsho roundabout, killing five civilians and injuring two others, Sana said. | In Hassakeh, an explosives-packed motorcycle was blown up at the Marsho roundabout, killing five civilians and injuring two others, Sana said. |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group that monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of sources, said three of the dead were Kurdish security personnel, known as the Asayish. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group that monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of sources, said three of the dead were Kurdish security personnel, known as the Asayish. |
The Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) militia took near complete control of the north-eastern city last month after a week of clashes with government troops. | The Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) militia took near complete control of the north-eastern city last month after a week of clashes with government troops. |
The Syrian Observatory put the total death toll for Monday's attacks at 47. | The Syrian Observatory put the total death toll for Monday's attacks at 47. |
The attacks came as US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed a ceasefire deal for Syria on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China. | The attacks came as US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed a ceasefire deal for Syria on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China. |
Mr Obama said he and Mr Putin had had "productive" discussions and had agreed to continue the search for a comprehensive truce. | Mr Obama said he and Mr Putin had had "productive" discussions and had agreed to continue the search for a comprehensive truce. |
The US president said: "Given the gaps of trust that exist, that's a tough negotiation and we haven't yet closed the gaps in a way where we think it would actually work. | The US president said: "Given the gaps of trust that exist, that's a tough negotiation and we haven't yet closed the gaps in a way where we think it would actually work. |
"But my instructions to Secretary [of State John] Kerry and Mr Putin's instructions to [Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov were to keep working at it over the next several days." | "But my instructions to Secretary [of State John] Kerry and Mr Putin's instructions to [Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov were to keep working at it over the next several days." |
Mr Putin said the talks were "on the right track" and that there was "some alignment" with the US. | |
The US is particularly concerned by the deteriorating conditions in and around Syria's second city, Aleppo, where rebel-held districts are once again under siege after government forces advanced on Sunday. | The US is particularly concerned by the deteriorating conditions in and around Syria's second city, Aleppo, where rebel-held districts are once again under siege after government forces advanced on Sunday. |
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also at the G20, said he had urged world powers to create a "safe zone" in Syria, with a "no-fly" element, that would help control the flow of migrants. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also at the G20, said he had urged world powers to create a "safe zone" in Syria, with a "no-fly" element, that would help control the flow of migrants. |