Double Suicide Bombing In Homs Kills 22
Reuters has tweeted these images of the aftermath of this morning's double suicide bombing in the Syrian city of Homs. The attacks happened at a government-controlled checkpoint in the al-Zahraa district.
The video below shows footage from the scene of the attacks.
More from Turkish Prime Minister Davotoglu on Turkey's insistence that the Kurdish YPG militia -- which is involved in fighting against the IS group in Syria -- should not attend the Syria talks.
Invitations for the talks are due to be sent out today and Turkey is lobbying for the YPG not to be invited as a member of the Syrian opposition.
Davutoglu: No Difference For Us Between PKK, Syrian YPG
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that Turkey sees no difference between the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing, the YPG.
The YPG is fighting against the IS group in Syria.
In Turkey, however, the Turkish military has intensified its campaign against the PKK separatist militants, particularly in towns and villages in predominantly Kurdish south eastern Turkey.
Turkey has said that the Syrian YPG should not be invited to Syria peace talks, scheduled for later this week. Russia says that it would be a "serious mistake" not to invite Kurdish groups.
Video Footage Inside Syria's Sheikh Miskeen, Recaptured By Government
Syrian state news agency SANA has published this video report, which includes footage taken inside the southern Syrian town of Sheikh Miskeen, a rebel stronghold in Daraa province recaptured by government forces on January 25.
Suicide Blasts In Syria's Homs Kill 22: State Media
At least 22 people have been killed in a double suicide bombing in Syria's Homs province early this morning, according to Syrian state media.
The attacks took place in the al-Zahraa district of Homs city and targeted a government controlled checkpoint.
Russia Did Not Offer Assad Political Asylum: Lavrov
Moscow did not offer Syrian President Bashar al-Assad political asylum, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
"In Moscow we agreed that, during the political process, for which he is prepared to send a delegation, President Assad would be prepared to consider political reforms which were ultimately incorporated into the decisions of the Vienna group and in the UN Security Council resolution 2254," Lavrov said.
"No one asked for any political asylum and no one proposed anything of the sort."
IS Claims Responsibility For Suicide Attack In Syria's Homs
Syrian Government Forces Capture Key Southern Rebel Town
Syrian pro-government forces have captured a key rebel town close to the Jordanian border, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said.
According to SOHR, government troops, Iranian officers and allied militias including from the Lebanese Shi'ite Hizbullah movement seized control of Sheikh Miskeen in Daraa province overnight with the help of Russian and Syrian government air strikes.
The town is also just 12 km from the strategic rebel stronghold of Nawa.
A security source had told AFP the Sheikh Miskeen was a "launching pad" for rebel operations, and one of the opposition's "centers of gravity for the whole of Daraa province".
He said seizing control of the town would sever a rebel supply route to areas under opposition control around Damascus.
Rwandan Police Kill Suspected IS Recruiter
Police in Rwanda have shot and killed a Rwandan man suspected of recruiting for the IS group, police have said, according to Reuters.
Muhammad Mugemangango, a deputy imam at Kimironko Mosque in Kigali, was under investigations for encouraging Rwandan youth to join the Islamic State, which is fighting in Iraq and Syria. No charges had been brought.