Damascus: At least 18 people were killed in four explosions that hit government-held parts of Syria on Monday.

The blasts happened in the cities of Tartous and Homs, and in the countryside outside Damascus, state media and a monitor said.

Five of the deaths were the result of a double bombing in Syria’s government-held Tartus province, state television said.

“Two terrorist blasts on 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,” it said.

“Five people (were) killed according to a initial toll.”

A car bomb also struck the city of Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and state news agency SANA said.

State television also said there was an explosion along the Al Sobura-Al Bija road outside Damascus.