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Syria: Isis attacks kill more than 100 people in Assad's coastal heartlands | Syria: Isis attacks kill more than 100 people in Assad's coastal heartlands |
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Isis has claimed a series of bomb attacks across regime strongholds in Syria, with at least 100 people killed according to local monitoring groups. | Isis has claimed a series of bomb attacks across regime strongholds in Syria, with at least 100 people killed according to local monitoring groups. |
A busy bus station and a hospital were among the targets in a rare series of mass-casualty blasts targeting civilians in coastal areas. | A busy bus station and a hospital were among the targets in a rare series of mass-casualty blasts targeting civilians in coastal areas. |
The attacks included at least five suicide bombings and two car bombs, and hit the Mediterranean cities of Tartous and Jableh firmly within territory loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. | The attacks included at least five suicide bombings and two car bombs, and hit the Mediterranean cities of Tartous and Jableh firmly within territory loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. |
State media confirmed the attacks had taken place, and the Isis-linked Amaq news agency said the militant group was responsible for carrying out the bombings. | State media confirmed the attacks had taken place, and the Isis-linked Amaq news agency said the militant group was responsible for carrying out the bombings. |
Attacks of this size are rare in parts of the country which are under regime control. | Attacks of this size are rare in parts of the country which are under regime control. |
State media has confirmed the attacks but gave a lower death toll. | State media has confirmed the attacks but gave a lower death toll. |
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they were the first assaults of their kind on the coastal cities. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they were the first assaults of their kind on the coastal cities. |
It said at least 48 people where killed in Tartous, which is home to a Russian naval base, and a further 53 in Jableh. | It said at least 48 people where killed in Tartous, which is home to a Russian naval base, and a further 53 in Jableh. |
Fighting across the war ravaged country has increased dramatically in recent weeks as after peace talks between non-Isis rebel groups and the Assad broke down. | Fighting across the war ravaged country has increased dramatically in recent weeks as after peace talks between non-Isis rebel groups and the Assad broke down. |
The regime, with the help of Russian airstrikes, has continued its assault on Aleppo where rebels struggle to hold on to the latest parts of the city under their control. | |
Isis are currently being pushed out of the territory they control in Syria and Iraq by a combination of US-led coalition airstrikes and have stepped up suicide attacks on other parts of Iraq and Syria in response. | |
The Syrian army claimed to have killed over 200 Isis militants in a three-day offensive in Deir ez-Zor last week, although those figures could not be independently verified. | |
Earlier this month, a suicide attack claimed by the group killed 10 people in a village near Homs in the centre of the country. | |
Twin explosions took place in the main square in Mukharam al Fawkani near the scene of fierce fighting between the group and the army over the Shaer gas field. |