Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

20 Killed in a Suicide Bomb that Targeted Syria’s Sayyida Zeinab Area | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55352467
Caption:

Syrians gather at the scene of a double bombing attack on June 11, 2016 outside the Sayyida Zeinab shrine, which is revered by Shiites around the world. (AFP Photo)


20 people including at least 13 civilians have died on Saturday when two bombs including one suicidal, rocked the Sayyida Zeinab area in Damascus, according to the latest count issued by the Syrian Observatory For Human Rights (SOHR).

Head of SOHR Rami Abdulrahman told Agence France Press (AFP) that “the number of victims left by the two bombs in the Sayyida Zeinab area has raised to 20, including 13 civilians and 7 pro-regime armed members.”

The last attack on Sayyida Zeinab on April 25 was caused by two explosive-laden cars planted at a security checkpoint. The attack had killed at least seven and wounded dozens, noting that it was later claimed by ISIS.

The Sayyida Zeinab area includes the Sayyida Zeinab Shrine, considered a religious tourist site in Syria, mainly revered by Shi’ites. The shrine is particularly visited by tourists coming from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, although the area was targeted with bombs several times in the past.

The shrine is heavily guarded by tight security that prevents cars from entering the site. However, it still witnessed several attacks, the largest one took place last February, and was also claimed by ISIS.

February’s suicide bombings left 134 killed including at least 90 civilians, and is considered to be the bloodiest attack since the start of the Syrian war in March 2011.