Yesterday, a pair of suicide bombers rammed explosives-laden vehicles into a security headquarters in the northeastern province of Hasakah. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the attack was carried out by the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda in Iraq’s affiliate in Syria, and that 14 people were killed. From the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights’ Facebook page:
Hasakah province: 14 members of the Syrian security services were killed by the 2 al-Nusra Front suicide car bombs, targeting the military and state security branches of al-Shadada city. The number of dead is likely to rise because of the large number of badly injured. Clashes are ongoing in the city. The residents of al-Shadada have been fleeing the city in panic, particularly those who live in the oilfield workers accommodation.
The Al Nusrah Front has yet to claim credit for the attack (its Twitter page, where Al Nusrah issues its press releases, has not been updated since Feb. 9), but it undoubtedly will. Eight suicide attacks have been reported in Syria so far this year, according to our count, and Al Nusrah has claimed six of them. The Al Nusrah Front has now claimed credit for 49 of the 60 suicide attacks that have taken place in Syria since December 2011.
Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
