The predominantly Kurdish, US-backed Syria Democratic Forces have been the main force fighting Isis in northern Syria, capturing significant territory from the extremists over the past two years. A twin bombing has struck a crowd in a predominantly Kurdish town in northern Syria, killing 44 people and wounding dozens more, Syria’s state-run news agency and Kurdish media have reported. Wednesday’s explosion came as US-backed Kurdish forces pressed ahead with their offensive to take the Isis-held town of Manbij, also in northern Syria but to the east of Qamishli. The extremist group has carried out several bombings in Kurdish areas in Syria in the past. “Most of the buildings at the scene of the explosion have been heavily damaged because of the strength of the blast,” he said.

Source: The Guardian July 27, 2016 10:10 UTC