Double bomb attack kills 22 in Homs

Syrian state media said the attack had killed 22 people and wounded more than 100.

The Zara district of Homs has been targeted in multiple bomb attacks in the past, including in late December, when 19 people were killed in several simultaneous blasts.

Barazi said “the aim of the terrorists was the checkpoint of the Syrian security forces”.

The Observatory quoted witnesses at the scene saying the first bomber attracted a crowd of security agents by shouting curses about the Homs governor, then blew his vehicle up.

The neighborhood along with other districts of Homs loyal to the government has suffered from repeated suicide bombings, as well as rocket and mortar fire from rebels entrenched in the countryside of Homs, Syria’s third largest city.

The town, in Daraa province, lies on a vital crossroads between Damascus to the north and the government-controlled city of Sweida to the east.

The invitations Tuesday come a day after special envoy Staffan de Mistura announced plans to host peace talks starting on Friday between government and opposition representatives as well as members of civil society and women’s groups. The opposition has accused Russian Federation, a key backer of the Syrian government, of trying to “dictate” who from the opposition would participate in the talks.

Tensions over who would be invited to the talks forced a few days’ delay and continued Tuesday.