Jableh car bomb strikes at President Assad's heartland

Scores of vehicles are set on fire and shops damaged in the explosion, which is the latest in a series of attacks in the region.



At least 10 people have been killed in a car bomb explosion in a Syrian coastal region where two Russian bases are located, according to state media.
Around 30 people were also injured, many critically, in the blast in the Mediterranean town of Jableh, which lies in the heartland of President Assad's minority Alawite sect.
Cars were set on fire and shops badly damaged in the explosion.

Sameera Yousef, at the vegetable market at the time of the blast, was among those hurt.
She said: "We were leaving the vegetable market, I was buying vegetables with my daughter, and as I was walking, carrying my things, a white car exploded."
Around 38 miles to the south is the port city of Tartous where the Russian military bases are located.
Last May, at least 150 people were killed and 200 wounded in bomb attacks, claimed by Islamic State.
The militant group said it had targeted "gatherings of Alawites", which it considers heretics.
Latakia city, which is north of Jableh and capital of the province of the same name, has also been targeted by bombings and insurgent rocket attacks.