Syria violence: auto bomb attacks ‘kill 20’ in Hassakeh

Two automotive bombings, half an hour aside, killed 26 individuals on Monday in a predominantly Kurdish metropolis in northeastern Syria, the nation’s state-owned media and activists reported, in an assault swiftly claimed by the Islamic State group. The Observatory said at least 13 civilians including two children were killed in the blasts.

The state news agency SANA said at least 21 died in the bombing in the busy Mahatta neighborhood.

The city has regularly been targeted by the Islamic State group, which controls some territory in Hasakeh province.

The first blast was caused by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive-laden vehicle in Khashman on the northern outskirts of the city.

Syrian state TV broadcast footage from the two-story building that collapsed in the al-Mahatta explosion, which also left a large crater in the street.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said the first blast hit a checkpoint belonging to the Kurdish security forces in Khashman, while the second struck the headquarters of a pro-regime militia in Mahata.

The second hit its centre, killing at least 20 people, according to state television.

Hassakeh has been scene of repeated attacks by IS militants.

An ISIL attack in June all but eliminated Syrian forces in the city, and the Kurds have been avoiding conflict with them to concentrate on fighting the Islamic extremists.

At the end of July, the Syrian army and Kurdish fighters managed to drive IS militants out of the province.