Approximately 20 civilians were killed and 54 people were injured following a car bomb attack in the central Syrian city of Homs on Saturday, Dec, 12, according to Xinhua.

This tragedy occurred three days after a local truce came into effect. The government and the rebels have reached an agreement mediated by the United Nations, causing hundreds of rebel fighters and their families to leave the last rebel-controlled area in Homs.

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A car reportedly filled with booby-traps passed through the Homs' pro-government neighborhood Al-Zahra'a and exploded in an area near the Al-Ahli hospital, according to Talal Barazi, the Provincial Governor.

al-Zahra'a has been subjected to bombings since a majority of the people who live there are Alawites.

The Alawite tribe is a minority group in Syria and an 'offshoot' to Shiism, which the ruling elite in Syria belongs.

"The explosion was terrifying. Body parts were on the ground. It was one of the biggest explosions to hit Homs," said a 28-year-old woman, who was working in the coffee shop when the explosion occurred, according to AFP News Agency via Al-Jazeera.

The woman added that the blast left a huge crater and this caused panic among people, running in different directions searching for a safe place.

The Syrian cabinet stated that they 'condemn' the Homs bombing incident and regard it as a 'cowardly terrorist attack', in retribution for the local resolution among the people in the Homs Province.

The Syrian cabinet also emphasized that these attacks 'will not succeed in intimidating the Syrians off the reconciliation track' and will enhance national solidarity and strength to fight terrorism instead.

The Islamic State group (ISIL) has claimed responsibility for the Homs attack.

The terrorist group revealed that it successfully carried out the attack through a car explosion and a suicide bomber that infiltrated a group of people who gather to check the car explosion.

The suicide bomber blew himself up, for the purpose of inflicting huge damage, according to a representative of IS.

Tagscar explosion, kills, 20 people, homs, syria attack, IS, ISIL, suicide bomber