At least 22 people were killed and dozens injured in an explosion at a Kurdish wedding in northeast Syria in city of Hasaka, while 3 others were killed in a similar incident in Hama.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 22 died in the blast, adding that many of the wounded were in a critical condition. Among those killed were the groom and a leading Kurdish party figure, the Observatory said.
Scores of wounded were rushed to the city’s hospitals, which appealed for blood donations, it said.
The Kurdish YPG, or People’s Protection Units, said in a statement at least 20 people were killed and dozens injured, adding it was not clear whether the blast was caused by a explosive device or a suicide bomber.
Syrian state media said at least 30 were killed and 90 injured in the blast.
A statement by Amaq news agency, which is close to Islamic State militants, said a suicide bomber had attacked a gathering of Kurdish YPG fighters on the edge of the city with machineguns and an explosive vest. They did not give further details.
The incident took place in early evening at a public hall on the highway between Hasaka and Kurdish-controlled Qamishli city, further northeast.
Hasaka is mainly in the hands of the YPG after it evicted the Syrian army in August.
Explosions in Hama
ISIS also claimed responsibility for suicide attacks in the central Syrian city of Hama that killed three people and wounded 11 others earlier on Monday.
Two suicide bombers wearing explosive-laden belts carried out the attacks near the ruling Baath party office and a police station, Amaq reported.
Syria’s state news agency SANA reported earlier that a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in al-Assi Square in Hama city, and the other blast occurred 15 minutes later.
The first blew himself up using an explosive belt in a square in the city’s al-Hader district, followed 15 minutes later by a second in the same location, SANA reported, citing a police source.
Some unconfirmed reports said a woman suicide bomber may have been behind the Hasaka attack.
Hama is Syria’s fourth-largest city and has seen relatively little fighting in recent years as the country’s conflict rages on. It is firmly under the control of President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.
Hama province is of strategic importance to Assad as it separates opposition forces in rebel-controlled Idlib from Damascus to the south and the government-controlled coast to the west.
