At least 20 people, mostly women, died after a car bomb blast rocked Syria's Manbij city on Monday, the deadliest attack since ex-President Bashar al-Assad's government toppled in December.

"The Syrian Civil Defense clarified on its Telegram channel that a car bomb exploded near a car transporting farmers on the outskirts of Manbij city," reported Syria's SANA news agency.

In a statement, the Syrian Presidency described the incident as a 'terror attack' and said those behind it would be punished.

“On Monday, February 3rd, 2025, a terrorist cowardly explosion targeted our civilians in the city of Manbij, claiming the lives of 20 people and a number of wounded… we pray to God to have mercy on the martyrs and a speedy recovery for the injured,” the presidency said in a statement as quoted by SANA.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led alliance backed by the US which controls much of north-eastern Syria, has reportedly condemned the attack.

Turkey-based Syrian Islamic Council accused the SDF of being behind the blast, reported BBC.

This was the second car bomb blast recorded in the area in the past three days.

At least four people, including children, died in a car bomb blast in the city on Saturday.