Death toll from Islamic State coordinated attacks in Syria rises to 215: reports
The aftermath of a suicide bombing attack in Sweida, a city in southern Syria, is seen here in a photo released by the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency.
Damascus (IraqiNews.com) – The death toll from the Islamic State gun attacks and suicide blasts in the southern Syrian city of Sweida on Wednesday rose to 215, Baghdad Today website quoted local media as saying.
The IS coordinated attacks —the worst in recent months— left 180 others wounded, according to the reports.
The extremist group had claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s deadly attacks in Sweida.
In a statement posted on its social media channels, the group said its “soldiers” carried out surprise attacks on government and security centers in Sweida, sparking clashes with Syrian troops and allied militias before detonating their explosive belts.
The United Nations in Syria condemned the terrorist bombings in Sweida city and called for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Islamic State lost nearly all the territory it once held in Syria last year in separate offensives by the Russian-backed army and a U.S.-backed militia alliance.
Since then, President Bashar al-Assad has gone on to crush the last remaining rebel enclaves near the cities of Damascus and Homs and swept rebels from the southwest.
After losing its strongholds in eastern Syria last year, Islamic State launched insurgency operations from pockets of territory in desert areas.