Damascus, October 2 (RHC)-- In the Syrian city of Homs, at least 45 people, including 41 children, have died in twin blasts outside an elementary school. The blasts were apparently timed to coincide with the students leaving class for the day.

The attack hit a neighborhood mostly inhabited by members of the Alawite sect that President Bashar al-Assad belongs to.

In related news, Islamic State militants have reportedly made advances in both Iraq and Syria despite an escalating U.S.-led bombing. In Iraq, militants are said to have seized control of the town of Heet in Anbar province.

In Syria, militants have advanced on Kurdish towns near the Turkish border, forcing tens of thousands of Syrian Kurds to flee in recent days.