Bombings in Syria have killed at least 44 people, mostly in government-controlled areas.
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Dozens killed by blasts in govt, Kurdish areas * Obama, Putin discuss Syria at G20, but no deal * Turkey sweeps Islamic State out of border stretch By Lisa Barrington and Roberta Rampton BEIRUT/HANGZHOU, China, Sept 5 (Reuters) – Explosions in government-controlled areas of Syria and a province held by Kurdish militia killed dozens on Monday, while the United States and Russian Federation failed to make concrete progress towards a ceasefire.
At least four explosions were believed to have hit the cities of Tartous, Homs and Hassakeh and in the suburbs of capital Damascus. Islamic State (Isis) later claimed responsibility for the devastating attacks. The IS group claimed responsibility for the blast in Hasakeh.
At least 48 people died in the multiple blasts, with dozens also wounded in the double bombing outside of Tartus city, which is home to a Russian naval base.
“It’s an area that houses officers and their families”.
State media also reported eight people killed in a bombing in Hasakeh, in the northeast of the country. One of the principle reasons for Russias intervention in Syrias six-year civil war was to protect its military assets in western Syria, including Tartus, from which it projects power into the Mediterranean.
Attackers detonated two bombs at the entrance of the government stronghold of Tartus along the worldwide coastal highway, SANA said, killing 30.
Free Syrian Army fighters launch a Grad rocket from Halfaya town in Hama province, towards forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad stationed in Zein al-Abidin mountain, Syria September 4, 2016.
There were also reports that two officers were killed at an army checkpoint in Homs, where a vehicle bomb exploded.
The suicide auto bomber had apparently planned to detonate inside the city but did so at the entrance after he was discovered by the authorities, the report said.
Syrian TV aired footage showing massive damage to the area, with a number of smashed cars and the bloodied body of a guard at the checkpoint, where the blast had taken place, according to the Associated Press.
Syrian state media said the attacker blew himself up on his motorcycle at a traffic circle. For Washington, the priority is stabilising Syria so as to destroy Islamic State, which controls territory both there and in neighbouring Iraq.
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The Observatory said the blast killed three members of the YPG-affiliated security force known as the Asayish, and injured others.
