Islamic State claims responsibility for attacks on Shi’ite shrine near Damascus

Islamic State on Friday claimed responsibility for an attack on the Sayeda Zeinab shrine south of the Syrian capital, Damascus, that killed several people and wounded others, the group said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

It also claimed responsibility for another attack that took place at the same shrine earlier this week in which two people were wounded. It is high season for the shrine as Shi’ite Muslims flock there to mark the mourning period of Ashura.