A series of coordinated explosions tore through two Syrian government strongholds Monday in the coastal cities of Tartous and Jabla, killing at least 78 people.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Three explosions struck a bus station in Tartous and four hit residential areas of Jabla, according to Syria’s state-run Syrian Arab News Agency.
The news agency said 78 people died. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 101.
Tartous is one of the main destinations for Syrian soldiers on leave from combat and is the site of a large military garrison. It also hosts thousands of people who have fled fighting in other parts of the country.
Jabla is a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has provided many officers and troops to the army.