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Syria war: Suicide attacks in the south kill dozens | Syria war: Suicide attacks in the south kill dozens |
(35 minutes later) | |
Suicide attacks in southern Syria have killed at least 38 people, reports say. | Suicide attacks in southern Syria have killed at least 38 people, reports say. |
The attacks took place in and around the government-held city of Sweida, state media and monitors reported. The Islamic State (IS) group is believed to be behind the violence. | The attacks took place in and around the government-held city of Sweida, state media and monitors reported. The Islamic State (IS) group is believed to be behind the violence. |
At least another 30 people were wounded, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. | At least another 30 people were wounded, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. |
The Syrian government has retaken control of much of southern Syria in recent months. | The Syrian government has retaken control of much of southern Syria in recent months. |
The observatory reported a string of attacks in the city, south of the capital Damascus, and elsewhere in the province. It said most of those killed were pro-government fighters. | |
"Three bombers with explosive belts targeted Sweida city alone while the other blasts hit villages to the north and east," it said in a statement. | "Three bombers with explosive belts targeted Sweida city alone while the other blasts hit villages to the north and east," it said in a statement. |
State news agency Sana reported one suicide attack at a market in Sweida and said security forces chased and killed two other attackers before they could blow themselves up. Militants also attacked three villages north-east of the city, it said. | |
The report gave no casualty figures but said a number of people had been "martyred". | The report gave no casualty figures but said a number of people had been "martyred". |
State TV also said government forces were "targeting positions of the Daesh (IS) terrorist group" in countryside to the east of Sweida. | State TV also said government forces were "targeting positions of the Daesh (IS) terrorist group" in countryside to the east of Sweida. |
The Syrian military, backed by Russian forces, recently launched an operation to drive rebel from their remaining strongholds in the south-west. | The Syrian military, backed by Russian forces, recently launched an operation to drive rebel from their remaining strongholds in the south-west. |
At least 270,000 people have fled their homes in the region as fighting continues, the UN says. | At least 270,000 people have fled their homes in the region as fighting continues, the UN says. |
On Sunday, Israel allowed the evacuation of hundreds of White Helmets civil defence workers who were trapped in a war zone in southern Syria. | |
The Syrian government condemned the move, describing it as a "criminal operation" by Israel and others. |