Syria’s state news agency reported that at least 11 people were killed and more than two dozen wounded after the town of Jableh was hit by a car bomb attack.
Jableh is located in the Latakia province which is firmly under government control since the outbreak of civil war in Syria.
Car Bomb Attack
The car bomb attack in the Syrian coastal town of Jableh is the first such kind of attack after the announcement of a country wide ceasefire.
The ceasefire was brokered with the help of Turkey and Russia, and was announced only last week. It came into effect right after it was announced.
Terrorist Attack
The official SANA news agency of Syria describes it as a terrorist attack that occurred near the Municipal Stadium in Jableh.
The town of Jableh is situated near the Russian airbase which finds itself in the Alawite heartland of Syria.
The Alawites are known as the offshoots of Shia Islam. The president of the country, Bashar al Assad also belongs to this minority sect.
Rush Hour
The police chief of Latakia province, stated on television that the explosion of the attack occurred during the peak hours. The target was one of the busiest streets in the city.
The state television also showed video and pictures that depicted damaged and mangled cars as well as charred shutters of shops. Some shutters had been blown apart.
Rescue workers were also seen clearing the debris in the presence of very heavy security. The site is a very busy commercial area near a famous vegetable market and a depot.
A string of coastal towns and cities in Syria are firmly under government control even as war rages in their surroundings.
These areas have witnessed very little violence during the conflict which is now more than five years old.
In May, similar attacks were carried out on a bus station. Then, a hospital was also targeted. These attacks claimed many lives, and had been claimed by the Islamic State group.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the car bomb attacks on Thursday. IS is not included in the ceasefire announced recently.
