Massive bomb blast in Syrian city

In May, Kurdish-led Syrian forces, backed by US -led airstrikes, started a major attack to dislodge Islamic State from Minbij and have since gained ground against the radical group.

However, although the enclave known to Kurds as Rojava, stretches a long way east to west, Isis forces are not far to the south and have in the past penetrated into Kurdish cities and towns to carry out bombings and killings.

The town is mainly controlled by Kurds but Syrian government forces are present and control the airport. Government forces and allied troops haVE tightened the noose on the main rebel enclave in the city of Aleppo, urging fighters there to surrender.

The jihadist group said Wednesday’s attack was in response to air strikes on the IS-held city of Manbij in north-west Aleppo province, where the SDF is on the offensive.

In a separate development, Syrian forces besieging rebel-held eastern Aleppo city called on anyone with weapons there to lay down their arms, announcing it had severed all supply routes.

A total of 170 people were also wounded when a booby-trapped truck, driven by a suicide bomber with the Islamic State (IS) group, went off in Qamishli, according to Sama TV. Its fighters are now being besieged in Manbij.

While Qamishli has been targeted before, the group says this is the biggest explosion ever to hit the city.

Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack through its propaganda agency Amaq, which said over 100 had been killed in a truck bombing attack on the headquarters of “Kurdish units”. In a later statement, it said the suicide bombing was in retaliation for the USA -led airstrikes in Manbij, threatening the Kurds specifically with more attacks.

State TV showed footage purportedly from the scene of yesterday’s blast, showing large- scale damage to buildings, vast amounts of rubble strewn across the road and plumes of smoke rising.

Qamishli resident Suleiman Youssef, a writer, told The Associated Press by telephone that he heard the first explosion from few miles away.

The area that was targeted houses several Kurdish administration buildings including the defence ministry and was considered a secure zone, with multiple checkpoints and security measures in place.

Initial media reports said the first explosion was followed by an explosives-packed motorcycle a few minutes later in the same area. He said the blasts levelled several buildings to the ground and many people were trapped under the rubble.