Twin bombings kill 26, injure 50 in Syria’s Suwayda
Twin bomb attacks have killed at least 26 people and injured 50 others in Syria’s southwestern city of Suwayda, police sources say.
Syria’s official SANA agency quoted security sources as saying on Friday that a first car bomb targeted a convoy of vehicles on the road known as Zahr al-Jabal on the outskirts of Suwayda.
The second bomb was detonated near Suwayda’s state-run hospital, killing those carrying the victims of the first blast, according to the report.
Other reports said Sheikh Wahid al-Balous, a senior Druze cleric, was killed in the first car bomb. Balous had repeatedly lashed out at militants for their cold-blooded killing of the civilians in Syria.
Unofficial reports put the number of explosions in Suwayda at three, saying at least two bombs went off near the southern gate of the National Hospital.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said the car bomb targeting the convoy of Balous killed three others, without elaborating whether they were also members of Sweida’s Druze community.
SANA said eight people were injured in the first attack. It said some of those injured in the second blast were in critical condition.
The blast in front of the hospital gate reportedly caused massive damage to the health facility and the neighboring buildings, while it also inflicted damage on cars travelling in the area.
Syria’s Council of Ministers condemned the “cowardly terrorist act” saying it will not stop the Syrian people’s resolve to fight terrorism but only adds to their resilience and strength.
Syrian media also carried a statement from Sheikh Yusuf Djerbou, a notable figure in the Druze community, who blamed the Friday attacks on “enemies of Syria and advocates of sedition.”
Suwayda is a Druze-dominated city close to the border with Jordan. The area was the scene of fierce battles between Syrian forces and militants several months ago, with large number of Druze people backing the government in the fighting.
Syria has been grappling with deadly attacks on civilians and security forces almost on a daily basis since March 2011. Damascus blames the attack on terrorists who enjoy the support of some foreign governments.
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