At least 4 Armenians have been killed in Islamic State-authored blasts in a Christian neighborhood of the city of Qamishli in Syria, Ermenihaber.am reports.

According to Turkey-based Armenian newspaper Agos, the attack took place in a restaurant on December 30, killing 16 Christian civilians and severely wounding at least 35.

The bombs went off in the city center, near a security point run by government troops, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists and other sources inside Syria. It said the death toll rose to 18 after two more people died of their wounds. Syrian SANA's toll, however, remained at 16.

The attack was presumably carried out against the Christians, who were reportedly celebrating Christmas at the restaurant.