— In a first, the Islamic State claims responsibility for two attacks in Homs …

🏴❌🇸🇾 🇸🇾 — In a first, the Islamic State claims responsibility for two attacks in Homs and Hama against former Ba’athist Syrian elements.

The first was against a “former Shiite militiaman” in Al Mazra’ah in Homs countryside, who was killed immediately.

The second, in Al Titaan neighborhood of Hama, was against an electoral candidate in the former regime, who was being protected by a soldier from the new regime. The candidate was killed and the soldier injured.

The Islamic State is clearly capitalizing on the perceived lack of transitional justice in Syria to gain popular support, and also perhaps the rising sectarian tensions specifically in Homs and Hama governorates.