String of explosions claim 48 lives in Syria, dozens injured

A string of bomb attacks hit across mostly government-controlled areas of Syria on Monday, killing at least 48 people, state media said. The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for one of the blasts, against a Kurdish security post in Hasakeh, but there were no immediate claims for the other attacks in Tartus, on government-held Homs city and at an army checkpoint on a road outside Damascus.

At least 48 people died in the multiple blasts, with dozens wounded in the double bombing outside of Tartus city, which is home to a Russian naval base. In Tartus, two blasts targeted the Arzuna bridge, “the first a car bomb and the second a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive belt when people gathered to help the wounded,” according to state television.

Quoting the head of Al-Bassel hospital in Tartus, the channel said 35 people were killed and 43 hurt in the attack.  Tartus has been largely spared the worst violence of Syria’s conflict since it began with anti-government protests in March 2011. It has become a refuge for many Syrians fleeing the fighting that has displaced more than half the country’s population.

At least eight persons were killed by a bomber on a motorbike in the city of Hasakeh, which is mostly controlled by Kurdish forces, though the regime is also present.