Car bomb in Syria kills 50 soldiers and pro-Assad fighters
A car bomb attack at a military post in Hama has killed at least 50 soldiers and pro-regime fighters, a rights watchdog has said.
Reported Deaths in Violence Across Syria April 2012; numbers from Syria Shuhada; figures from March18, 2011 – April 10, 2012 Diagram by Voice of America
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the blast occurred near the checkpoint in the village of Ziyara, in central Syria.
Jabhat al Nusra, an al Qaeda-inspired Islamic militant group, has claimed responsibility fo the attack.
“The post, located at the Centre for Rural Development, is the largest gathering place for troops and pro-regime militiamen in the region.”
The death toll has not been independently verified.
State-run news agency SANA said the explosion occurred outside a development agency.
It comes after 20 rebel fighters were killed in the town of Harem, in Idlib province, by an air strike.
Rebels have scored significant wins in recent weeks and hold territory in the country’s north, but have come under intense air bombardment as President Bashar al Assad attempts to regain ground.
Fighting has also erupted in southern districts of the capital Damascus and Aleppo.
The Observatory said at least 105 people, including 55 soldiers, had been killed in the violence on Monday.
