A series of explosions in the Syrian cities of Homs and Damascus have left close to 100 dead, local and state media reported Sunday afternoon. The body count in Homs stands is at least 57, mostly civilians, killed in a two-car bombing. The southern Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab was then rattled by at least four blasts, killing at least 30. ISIS claimed responsibly for all six attacks.
Homs was one of the cities where the rebellion against the Bashar al-Assad regime began, but the uprising there has been suppressed and city remains under the firm control of regime forces. Last month, Homs was rocked by a series of ISIS attacks, including another two-car bombing that killed at least 25.
According to tradition, Sayyida Zeinab is the location of Syria’s holiest Shia mosque, as well as the grave of the Prophet Mohammed’s granddaughter. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least four explosions in that part of Damascus.