Car bomb attack hits Idlib in northwestern Syria

A car bomb explosion has rocked Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, causing an unspecified number of casualties, state media reported.

According to a report by Syria’s official SANA News Agency, the blast took place when a vehicle loaded with explosives detonated in an area between the western towns of Failoun and Bakfalloun on Wednesday.

Other reports also indicated that the bomb attack was carried out near an army checkpoint close to the military public housing area in the city of Idlib.

The incident happened after the Syrian army forces cleared more regions across the crisis-hit country of foreign-sponsored militants.

Syrian soldiers reportedly raided a building in the Basatin al-Rihan neighborhood located in Syria’s coastal city of Latakia earlier in the day, arresting a number of anti-Damascus militants.

Several maps containing possible attack targets were reportedly discovered in the building.

Syrian security forces also confiscated a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosive devices in the region.

On Tuesday, the Syrian army soldiers intercepted a truck loaded with three tons of explosives on al-Mastoumeh road as it was heading to Idlib, SANA reported.

The attempted bombing came a day after at least 15 civilians were killed and almost 150 others were injured in a terrorist car bomb explosion in central Damascus.

Many people, including large numbers of security personnel, have lost their lives in the crisis that broke out in Syria in March 2011.

Damascus says the West and its regional allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are supporting the militants.