Russia’s defense ministry has accused the United States of not doing enough to stop rebel groups in Syria from targeting humanitarian aid corridors outside the northern city of Aleppo.
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The US is particularly concerned by the deteriorating conditions in and around Syria’s second city, Aleppo, where rebel-held districts are once again under siege after government forces advanced on Sunday.
At least 40 people were killed and dozens more wounded in a series of coordinated explosions across the country, Syrian state media reported.
The IS-run Aamaq news agency says the group was behind the “simultaneous” attacks on Monday.
At least 35 people died in a double bombing on a bridge leading to this coastal city, a stronghold of President Bashar al Assad and home to a Russian naval base.
Meanwhile, a bomber also struck in the northeastern city of Hasakeh, which is mostly controlled by Kurdish forces, killing at least eight more people.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility.
The Hassakeh bombing, which left five people dead, was caused by an explosives-packed motorcycle at the Marsho roundabout. Islamic State (Isis) later claimed responsibility for the devastating attacks. The attacks were timed closely together, but authorities have not determined whether they were linked.
Another bomb attack was also reported on the Al-Sabura road west of the capital Damascus, with state media saying one person had been killed and three injured in that bombing. The Observatory said the blast killed three members of a YPG-affiliated security force and that a percussion bomb also went off in the province’s Qamishli city.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Britain-based monitoring group, said the blast hit a checkpoint belonging to the Kurdish Asayesh security forces. Conflicting casualty figures are common in the Syria war.
In Tartus, two blasts targeted the Arzuna bridge, “the first a auto bomb and the second a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive belt when people gathered to help the wounded”, according to state television.
Monday’s bombings came in rapid succession during the morning rush hour, targeting the central city of Homs; a highly guarded Damascus suburb; the government stronghold of Tartus, where Russian Federation has a major naval base; and Kurdish areas in northeastern Syria.
Casualty reports were still coming in. The Observatory said the explosion hit an army checkpoint and four officers were killed.
“The Syrian government calls on the United Nations security Council to immediately condemn the bloody crimes perpetrated by the armed terrorist groups and to assume its responsibility in preserving worldwide peace and security… the Syrian government also calls on Security council to take punitive and deterrent procedures against the countries which support terrorism, particularly Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and France and forcing them to carry out the rules of relevant resolutions No. 2170, 2178, 2199 and 2253”, the letters concluded.
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