Islamic State claims deadly Syria bombings

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for six deadly suicide bombings that targeted security forces across Syria on Monday, the militant-run Aamaq news agency said.

Militants killed at least 48 people across mostly government-controlled areas of the war-torn country, just a day after IS lost the last stretch of the Syria-Turkey border under its control.

In Tartus, two blasts targeted the Arzuna bridge, "the first a car bomb and the second a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive belt when people gathered to help the wounded", according to state television.

Other attacks hit government-held Homs city, an army checkpoint on a road outside Damascus, and a Kurdish security forces checkpoint in

Hassakeh city has been regularly targeted by IS, including in July when a motorcycle bomber killed at least 16 people outside a bakery in the city.

Four people were killed there in a car bombing that hit a checkpoint at the entrance of the al-Zahra neighbourhood in central Homs city.

Another attack hit the Al-Sabura road west of the capital Damascus, with state media saying one person was killed and three wounded.

Syria expert Thomas Pierret said the attacks were part of a new IS "strategy... to 'seduce' rebels by demonstrating IS's capacity to strike the regime".

"IS also wants to whip up sectarian tensions for its benefit and is counting on more of these events to mobilise its supporters in these regions," he told AFP.