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'At least 23 killed' in car bomb blast in Idlib city in Syria | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
At least 23 people have been killed and tens more injured in a car bomb blast in the northwestern city of Idlib, a human rights group has said. | |
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the explosion had targeted the headquarters of an opposition faction. | |
Photos and video from the activist-run Thiqa News Agency and Baladi News Agency show heavy damage along what appears to be a major avenue in the city, with several buildings damaged and vehicles overturned. | Photos and video from the activist-run Thiqa News Agency and Baladi News Agency show heavy damage along what appears to be a major avenue in the city, with several buildings damaged and vehicles overturned. |
First responders, ambulances and fire brigades are also seen arriving at the scene. | First responders, ambulances and fire brigades are also seen arriving at the scene. |
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing. The city and the province are controlled by several rebel factions and insurgents vying for dominance, the most powerful being an al-Qaida-linked group. | No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing. The city and the province are controlled by several rebel factions and insurgents vying for dominance, the most powerful being an al-Qaida-linked group. |
The Syrian Army has been advancing on the region, which is the largest remaining rebel-held area in the north of the country, and recaptured the town of Sinjar, around 12 miles south of Abu Zuhour airbase earlier on Sunday. | The Syrian Army has been advancing on the region, which is the largest remaining rebel-held area in the north of the country, and recaptured the town of Sinjar, around 12 miles south of Abu Zuhour airbase earlier on Sunday. |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the gain “opens the road” for government troops to march on the rebel-held Abu Zuhour airbase about 12 miles to the north. | |
The military has assigned one of its top commanders to lead the offensive into Idlib, the last major stronghold for rebels in northern Syria. | The military has assigned one of its top commanders to lead the offensive into Idlib, the last major stronghold for rebels in northern Syria. |
The UN said more than 2.5 million people are currently living in Idlib, including more than one million displaced by fighting from other parts of Syria. | The UN said more than 2.5 million people are currently living in Idlib, including more than one million displaced by fighting from other parts of Syria. |
Thousands of civilians have already fled towards the border with Turkey in freezing January temperatures to escape the brutal fighting. | |
The offensive on the province was expected after Syrian government forces, aided by Russia, defeated Isis in other parts of the country last year. | |
“Conditions on the ground are wretched for the rebels,” said an opposition activist. | “Conditions on the ground are wretched for the rebels,” said an opposition activist. |
He said they are stuck in a two-front battle with government forces and remaining pockets of Isis militants, while Russian air strikes have taken a heavy toll. | He said they are stuck in a two-front battle with government forces and remaining pockets of Isis militants, while Russian air strikes have taken a heavy toll. |
Opposition activists say the main targets currently appear to be the rebel-held airbase of Abu Zuhour, on the south-eastern edge of the province, as well as securing the Damascus-Aleppo road that cuts through Idlib. | Opposition activists say the main targets currently appear to be the rebel-held airbase of Abu Zuhour, on the south-eastern edge of the province, as well as securing the Damascus-Aleppo road that cuts through Idlib. |
Another opposition activist, Mohammed al-Ali, said the Russians and the Syrian government are carpet-bombing villages before pushing into them. | Another opposition activist, Mohammed al-Ali, said the Russians and the Syrian government are carpet-bombing villages before pushing into them. |
“The Russian air strikes, weak fortifications and Islamic State attacks in Hama,” have all helped government forces, he said. | |
It is reported to be highly unlikely that government forces would march towards the provincial capital, also named Idlib, as it would set up a costly battle with highly experienced and well-armed al-Qaida-linked insurgents. | |
The province is dominated by the Levant Liberation Committee, which claims to have severed ties with al-Qaida but is widely believed to still be affiliated with it. | |
Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |