A string of explosions around Syria, majority targeting government checkpoints, killed at least 40 people Monday as talks failed between the United States and Russian Federation for a cease-fire in the war.
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The blasts occurred in majorly government-controlled areas, killing at least 30 people in President Bashar al-Assad’s stronghold Tartus.
As Washington and Moscow failed to agree a deal to stem the violence, bombings claimed by the Islamic State group killed dozens in mainly government-controlled areas of Syria on Monday.
IS had earlier claimed another attack targeting Kurdish forces in the northeastern city of Hasakeh, and said another bombing targeted Kurdish forces in the nearby city of Qamishli.
Shortly after the Tartous bombings, at least four people were killed when a vehicle bomb exploded at the entrance of the al-Zahraa neighbourhood in the central Homs province.
In the northeastern Bab Tadmor (Gate of Palmyra) neighborhood of the western city of Homs, located 162 kilometers (101 miles) north of Damascus, a bomb attack killed two civilians and left seven others injured.
Elsewhere, four people died in an explosion at a checkpoint in the city of Homs, and one person died in a bombing in the countryside surrounding Damascus. SANA said the attack killed one person, while the opposition-run Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three people were killed.
Hasaka city has been regularly targeted by the terrorist organization, including in July, when a motorcycle bomber killed at least 16 people outside a bakery in the city. “However, we must ensure that it is an effective agreement”, the official said.
The leaders told their top diplomats to continue trying to reach an agreement amid “technical” issues having to do with implementation of the agreement.
Turkey began an operation inside Syria on 24 August targetting not only IS but also Syrian Kurdish forces that have been a key USA partner in the fight against the jihadist group in Syria. Brett McGurk, the US envoy to the anti-Islamic State coalition, visited Syria last week and emphasised “the need for strict adherence to prior commitments, a State Department spokeswoman said”.
The YPG already controls swathes of northern Syria where Kurdish groups have established de facto autonomy since the start of the Syrian war in 2011.
Citing a source in the Tartus police command, Syria 24 reported that 11 people have been killed in the blasts and some 45 injured.
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The Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) militia took near complete control of the north-eastern city last month after a week of clashes with government troops.
