London – A monitoring group said on Monday that the series of bombings claimed by Islamic State militants that hit government held areas in central Homs province and near the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday claimed 184 lives.
Rami Abdel-Rahman, the Head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said in London that 120 people, including 75 civilians, were killed after two suicide attacks and two car bombs rocked Sayeda Zeinab, a Shiite area south of the capital Damascus.
He said that the Sunday attacks were the deadliest one-day bombings since the Syrian uprising erupted in 2011.
Abdel-Rahman said a statement in the name of the Islamic State movement posted on social media had claimed responsibility for both attacks.
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Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, had condemned the attacks, as world powers discussed ways to implement a Syrian ceasefire in the coming weeks.
Kerry said he had reached a “provisional agreement in principle” with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, on terms for a truce.
In Saudi Arabia, members of the opposition Higher Negotiations Committee said they were due to meet and discuss the proposed ceasefire after rebel representatives gave their initial approval.
A cessation of hostilities by Friday was proposed on Feb. 12 by world powers meeting in Munich, Germany.
Part of the plan was also to ensure access for humanitarian aid to besieged areas in Syria. (dpa/NAN
