Islamic State blamed for car bomb that kills nearly 50 in northern Syria

BEIRUT — A car bomb ripped through a busy commercial district in a rebel-held Syrian town along the Turkish border Saturday, killing nearly 50 in a huge explosion that damaged buildings and left rescuers scrambling to find survivors amid the wreckage, opposition activists said.

Rescuers and doctors said the explosion was so large there were nearly 100 wounded and burned. Over 50 wounded were taken to the Turkish border town of Kilis for treatment.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Locals said a rigged tanker caused the explosion and blamed Islamic State militants, who have carried out attacks in the town before. The militant group has been increasingly pressed in Syria and Iraq, and has escalated its attacks against Turkey — which backs Syrian opposition fighters.

— GETTY IMAGES An image grab taken from a television video shows people gathering amid the debris at the site of a car-bomb attack in the rebel-held town of Azaz in northern Syria.