Syrian state media say at least 78 people were killed on Monday when several bombings rocked two Syrian coastal cities. Other sources say more than 100 were killed. Four blasts ripped through the city of Jableh in the countryside of the coastal city of Latakia.

Following the Jableh blasts, another four bombings rocked the coastal city of Tartus, which is only 100 km away. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Syrian TV said the Turkey-backed Ahrar al-Sham were behind the bombings. Tartus and Latakia are both bastions of the Syrian administration of President Bashar al-Assad.