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Twin Bombings at Kurdish Celebrations Kill 20 in Syria


Rebel fighters from the Suqour al-Sham Brigade carry mortar shells to be launched toward forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad near Idlib, March 19, 2015.
Rebel fighters from the Suqour al-Sham Brigade carry mortar shells to be launched toward forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad near Idlib, March 19, 2015.

Syrian monitors say a suicide bomber and a car bomb killed 20 people and wounded 80 Friday during Nowruz celebrations in a northeastern Syrian city.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said most of the victims were Kurds welcoming the Persian new year in the city of al-Hasakah.

It blamed the two attacks on Islamic State, although no one has claimed responsibility so far.

Syria's state-run news agency said the attacks were carried out by "terrorists" — its word for the rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

The commander of Kurdish security forces in Syria wrote on Facebook that Friday's bombings "will not pass without retribution."

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