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Syria: Twin attacks on Homs security bases kill dozens | Syria: Twin attacks on Homs security bases kill dozens |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Gunmen and suicide bombers have attacked security bases in Homs, western Syria, killing at least 32. | |
State TV said the local head of military intelligence was among the dead and some reports say more than 40 died. Jihadist group Tahrir al-Sham said it carried out the attacks. | |
Homs has been under government control since December 2015 when rebels left under a ceasefire deal. | Homs has been under government control since December 2015 when rebels left under a ceasefire deal. |
Syria's government said the attacks would not go unanswered. | |
UN ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari, who leads the government delegation at peace talks in Geneva, said they were a message to the talks from "the sponsors of terrorism". | |
But UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the attacks would not affect the talks. | |
"It was tragic, terrible, and that's why, you know, I'm expecting during these talks unfortunately spoilers," he said. | |
"Every time we had talk, or negotiation, there was always someone who tried to spoil it. We were expecting that." | |
Tahrir al Sham which is led by al-Qaeda's former affiliate in Syria, is part of neither the current ceasefire nor the peace talks. | |
Air strikes | |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said attackers targeted the headquarters of military security in the city and also a branch of state security. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said attackers targeted the headquarters of military security in the city and also a branch of state security. |
The attacks took place in the heavily guarded Ghouta and Mahatta districts. | The attacks took place in the heavily guarded Ghouta and Mahatta districts. |
State TV said provincial army intelligence chief General Hassan Daabul, a close associate of President Bashar al-Assad, was among the dead. | State TV said provincial army intelligence chief General Hassan Daabul, a close associate of President Bashar al-Assad, was among the dead. |
After the attacks, government planes carried out air strikes on the last opposition enclave in Homs, though rebels there are not connected to Tahrir al-Sham. | |
The jihadists said five of their fighters had taken part in the assault. | |
The group was formed when Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, known as the Nusra Front until it broke off formal ties with al-Qaeda last July, merged with four smaller Syrian factions. | The group was formed when Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, known as the Nusra Front until it broke off formal ties with al-Qaeda last July, merged with four smaller Syrian factions. |
Earlier this month it announced that its leader was Hashim al-Sheikh, who previously served as head of the powerful Islamist rebel group, Ahrar al-Sham. | Earlier this month it announced that its leader was Hashim al-Sheikh, who previously served as head of the powerful Islamist rebel group, Ahrar al-Sham. |