Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels U.S.-led intervention against ISIL On 23 May 2016, eight bombings were carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Jableh and Tartus, coastline cities in Syria.

The bombings in Tartus targeted a bus station (bus stations were also targeted in Jableh).

[4] The attacks took place in relatively violence-free areas of Syria.

[5] The cities were government-controlled territory, that hosted Russian military bases.

[6][2] The Syrian government had accused Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey of being behind the wave of bombings in these cities.