Two car bombs have ripped through the besieged central Syrian city of Homs, killing at least 21 people, including women and children.

More than 100 others were injured in the explosions in the Karam al-Loz district, home to a mostly Alawite community, the shi’ite sect of President Bashar al-Assad.

Rebel sources say an explosion in Homs on Sunday killed at least 29 fighters including two field commanders.

Damascus claimed on Wednesday its forces had recaptured the border town of Rankous, consolidating its control of a supply line from Lebanon previously used by the Syrian Free army and rebel forces. It is part of an offensive trying to seal off the border and deny the rebels supplies being conducted by the Syrian army, Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon, and units from Iraq.

Rebel units in central Syria are now looking isolated, although they still control most of the east and the north of the country.