13 killed as bombings hit regime-held areas in Syria

By Mohamed Misto

HOMS, Syria

At least 13 people were killed and scores injured in two car bombings in regime-held areas in Syria on Monday, according to local media.

A car-bomb hit the Arzouna bridge area at the entrance to the north-western coastal city of Tartous, killing 11 people and injuring 45 others, the official SANA News Agency reported.

Another explosion struck a regime checkpoint in the city of Homs, killing two people and injuring seven others, SANA said.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attacks.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests – which erupted as part of the "Arab Spring" uprisings – with unexpected ferocity.