A Syrian alliance of Islamist jihadist groups known Tahrir al Sham said on Sunday it was responsible for two suicide attacks in the capital Damascus that killed and injured dozens of Shi’ite visitors. In a statement, the group said the attack targeted “Iranian militias” and pro-government defence militias in revenge for what it said was Iran’s role in supporting President Bashar al Assad’s “tyrannical rule,” holding them responsible for “killing and displacing” Syrians.

An al-Qaida-linked group has claimed responsibility for twin blasts near holy shrines frequented by Shiites in the Syrian capital Damascus that killed at least 40 people. The Levant Liberation Committee said in a statement Sunday that the attack was carried by two of its suicide attackers, claiming that they targeted pro-Iranian and pro-government militiamen.

BEIRUT – Twin blasts Saturday near holy shrines frequented by Shiites in the Syrian capital Damascus killed at least 40 people and wounded over a hundred, most of them Iraqis, according to Syrian and Iraqi officials.

A Syrian army soldier takes a picture of a fellow soldier standing on ruins in the historic city of Palmyra, Syria March 4, 2017. FILE PHOTO:People visit the ruins of the historic city of Palmyra ahead of a musical event at its amphitheatre, Syria May 6, 2016.

BEIRUT: At least 11 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded on Saturday in air strikes on a central Syrian village that a monitor said were likely carried out by Russia. “The raids targeted a livestock market in the village of Oqayrabat, held by the IS group in Hama province,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

This file image posted online on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, by the Aamaq News Agency, a media arm of the Islamic State group, purports to show a general view of the ancient ruins of the city of Palmyra, in Homs province, Syria, with the Citadel of Palmyra in the background. Syrian state media said on Thursday, March 2, 2017 that military forces have entered Palmyra in the quest to again take the town from the Islamic State group.

In this Wednesday, March 1, 2017 frame grab from video provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, Syrian forces take up positions during fighting between Government forces and Islamic State group militants in the ancient city of Palmyra, near Homs, Syria. Syrian state media says government forces have reached the edge of Palmyra and are poised to reclaim the historic town from the Islamic State group.

Russia pledged to veto a Western-backed U.N. resolution Tuesday that would impose sanctions on 21 Syrian individuals, organizations and companies allegedly involved in chemical weapons attacks in the war-ravaged country. The draft Security Council resolution would also ban all countries from supplying Syria’s government with helicopters, which investigators have determined were used in chemical attacks.

The A 600 million total was calculated by the Scottish National Party from Freedom of Information requests and annual departmental accounts Government departments have written off A 600 million of taxpayers’ money as “fruitless spending” over the past decade, according to new figures. The sums include a A 103 million loss on Chinook military helicopters which did not meet operational requirements in 2010/11, A 89.3 million on compensation to contractors after the Flexible New Deal was scrapped the same year and A 27 million in relation to an office move for the Communities Department in 2013/14.

The A 600 million total was calculated by the Scottish National Party from Freedom of Information requests and annual departmental accounts Government departments have written off A 600 million of taxpayers’ money as “fruitless spending” over the past decade, according to new figures. The sums include a A 103 million loss on Chinook military helicopters which did not meet operational requirements in 2010/11, A 89.3 million on compensation to contractors after the Flexible New Deal was scrapped the same year and A 27 million in relation to an office move for the Communities Department in 2013/14.

Syrian government forces on Feb. 20 escalated their bombing campaign around Damascus, raining shells down on rebel territory and sending out a “bloody message” just days before renewed peace talks in Geneva. Representatives from the opposition and of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime are to head to Switzerland on Feb. 23 for another attempt to end their country’s brutal six-year war.

Three fighters, including a Lebanese national were killed in an ambush by Syrian opposition forces in regime-held Kafraya in Idlib province, whilst further fighting took place between opposition and the regime forces in Daraa and the outskirts of Damascus on Tuesday. Opposition forces appear to have encircled a number of militias belonging to Iran and Lebanese group Hizballah in the town of Kafraya.

Syrian army has confronted an attack unleashed by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and other terror-linked groups in southern province of Daraa, state news agency SANA reported on Monday. The Syrian army and allied fighters fended off the attacks by the Nusra and allied militants on residential areas in Daraa, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers, said SANA, adding that the attacks were focused in the areas of Manshiyeh and Hamiedet al-Zaher as well as Busra square in Daraa.

The Syrian government said on Monday that it is ready to exchange prisoners it has with kidnapped people in rebel hands, state news agency SANA reported. The offer came in light of efforts exerted for the upcoming Syria talks in Astana on Feb. 15-16, and the proposed swap could include the release of prisoners in Syrian jails in exchange for civilians and military personnel in rebel captivity.

Russia released drone footage Monday showing new destruction in Syria’s historic town of Palmyra, which was recently recaptured by the Islamic State group, and warned that the militants could be planning the further demolition of antiquities. The Russian Defense Ministry says Syrian government forces are advancing toward the town as another battle for the ancient site looms.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rejected the creation of safe zones for refugees and displaced people, an idea supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, saying they would not work, according to the transcript of an interview published on Friday.