Five people were killed on Tuesday (May 23rd) when two explosives-packed vehicles blew up near minority neighbourhoods in Syria, in incidents claimed by the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS), AFP reported.

ISIS's propaganda agency Amaq said ISIS fighters were responsible for the blasts near the capital Damascus and in Homs.

Syria's state news agency SANA said the explosions in both areas were caused by security forces firing on the cars as they approached checkpoints.

The first explosion killed four people and wounded 30 near the al-Zahraa neighbourhood of Homs city, SANA said.

Most residents of al-Zahraa belong to the Alawite sect, and the district has been repeatedly targeted by ISIS.

The two bombers drove the vehicle towards a checkpoint where security forces opened fire, detonating the explosives inside, SANA reported.

"Some of those with minor injuries have already left hospital," Homs governor Talal Barazi told state television.

The second blast claimed by ISIS took place on the road south from the capital to Syria's holiest Shia Muslim shrine, the Sayyida Zainab mausoleum.

Police opened fire on a vehicle near a checkpoint which turned out to be carrying explosives and blew up, killing one civilian and wounding another, SANA said.

In March, twin suicide attacks at Sayyida Zainab killed 74 people, most of them Iraqi pilgrims.

Tuesday's bombings come two days after the government announced it had taken full control of Homs, following the evacuation of opposition fighters from the last neighbourhood under their control.