Over 148 killed in IS blasts at Syria govt heartland

More than 148 people were killed Monday in bombings claimed by the Islamic State group in northwestern Syria, the deadliest attacks yet in the regime's coastal heartland, reports AFP. Seven near-simultaneous explosions targeted bus stations, hospitals and other civilian sites in the seaside cities of Jableh and Tartus, which until now had been relatively insulated from Syria's five-year civil war. The unprecedented attacks on strongholds of President Bashar al-Assad's regime came as IS faces mounting pressure in both Syria and Iraq, where Baghdad's forces on Monday launched a major offensive to retake the jihadist-held city of Fallujah.
A hundred people were killed in Jableh and another 48 in Tartus to the south, at least eight of them children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.
Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said they were "without a doubt the deadliest attacks" on the two cities since the start of the war.
IS claimed the blasts via its Amaq news agency, saying its fighters had attacked "Alawite gatherings" in Jableh and Tartus, referring to the minority sect from which Assad hails.
IS is not known to have a presence in Syria's coastal provinces, where its jihadist rival and Al-Qaeda's local branch Al-Nusra Front is much more prominent.
But IS is notorious for using deadly sleeper cells to attack its enemies.
"I'm shocked, this is the first time I hear sounds like this," said Mohsen Zayyoud, a 22-year-old university student in Jableh.
"I thought the war was over and that I could walk safely. But I was surprised to see that we're still in the heart of the battle," he said.
In Tartus a 42-year-old bank employee was just as stunned.
"It's the first time we hear explosions in Tartus, and the first time we see dead people or body parts here," Shady Osman said.
Jableh lies in Latakia province, while Tartus is the capital of the adjacent governorate of the same name.
Both cities have remained relatively secure even as the war has raged in Latakia province's rural northeast and throughout the country.
State media earlier said 78 people -- 45 in Jableh and 33 in Tartus -- were killed in the bombings.
The attacks began at 9:00 am local time (0600 GMT) with three explosions at a busy bus station in Tartus, where regime ally Russia has long maintained a naval facility.
The Observatory said one car bomb detonated first, and as people began to flock to the site two suicide bombers detonated explosive belts.

Over 148 killed in IS blasts at Syria govt heartland

More than 148 people were killed Monday in bombings claimed by the Islamic State group in northwestern Syria, the deadliest attacks yet in the regimes coastal heartland, reports AFP. Seven near-simultaneous explosions targeted bus stations, hospitals and other civilian sites in the seaside cities of Jableh and Tartus, which until now had been relatively insulated from Syrias five-year civil war. The unprecedented attacks on strongholds of President Bashar al-Assads regime came as IS faces mounting pressure in both Syria and Iraq, where Baghdads forces on Monday launched a major offensive to retake the jihadist-held city of Fallujah. A hundred people were killed in Jableh and another 48 in Tartus to the south, at least eight of them children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said they were without a doubt the deadliest attacks on the two cities since the start of the war. IS claimed the blasts via its Amaq news agency, saying its fighters had attacked Alawite gatherings in Jableh and Tartus, referring to the minority sect from which Assad hails. IS is not known to have a presence in Syrias coastal provinces, where its jihadist rival and Al-Qaedas local branch Al-Nusra Front is much more prominent. But IS is notorious for using deadly sleeper cells to attack its enemies. Im shocked, this is the first time I hear sounds like this, said Mohsen Zayyoud, a 22-year-old university student in Jableh. I thought the war was over and that I could walk safely. But I was surprised to see that were still in the heart of the battle, he said. In Tartus a 42-year-old bank employee was just as stunned. Its the first time we hear explosions in Tartus, and the first time we see dead people or body parts here, Shady Osman said. Jableh lies in Latakia province, while Tartus is the capital of the adjacent governorate of the same name. Both cities have remained relatively secure even as the war has raged in Latakia provinces rural northeast and throughout the country. State media earlier said 78 people -- 45 in Jableh and 33 in Tartus -- were killed in the bombings. The attacks began at 9:00 am local time (0600 GMT) with three explosions at a busy bus station in Tartus, where regime ally Russia has long maintained a naval facility. The Observatory said one car bomb detonated first, and as people began to flock to the site two suicide bombers detonated explosive belts.