At least 42 people were killed as suicide bombers attacked two security service bases in Syria’s Homs city on Saturday. Six attackers carried out the twin explosions at Ghouta and Mahatta neighbourhoods. “There were at least six attackers and several of them blew themselves up near the headquarters of state security and military intelligence,” Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

Although the identities of those who died have not been ascertained, TV reports claimed that Army Intelligence Chief General Hassan Daabul was among those killed. The suicide bombers had particularly targeted Daabul, who was a confidante of President Bashar al-Assad’s.

Syria’s former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front has claimed responsibility for the attack. The outfit said that five of its militants took part in the assault. Fateh al-Sham is not a part of the ceasefire deal between the government and rebel groups.

The Homs attacks come a day after 41 people were killed and several others injured in a car bomb blast at a security checkpoint in Syria’s al-Bab. Officials had said that the attack targeting Turkey-backed Syrian rebels was perpetrated by the Islamic State group.

These back-to-back attacks come while peace talks are on in Geneva. In the conflict in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad is backed by Russia and Iran, while Shia militia fighting rebels are supported by Turkey, United States and several Gulf countries. Both factions are also simultaneously trying to oust the Islamic State group from the region.