Dozens killed in huge car bomb attack near Syria's Hama

A huge car bomb killed dozens in the central Syrian province of Hama on Friday, with state news agency SANA blaming the attack on rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

At least 34 people were killed and 50 injured in the bombing, according to SANA, who said a truck loaded with “about 3 tons of explosive materials” was blown up in the village of al-Hurra in the Hama countryside, which is populated by members of Assad’s Alawite Muslim sect.

The official news agency also described significant damage to “a large number of houses and buildings in the village”, which is nearby the medieval castle of Qalaat al-Madiq.

The fort has previously suffered damage in fighting between rebels and government forces, although there were no reports of any further damage in this attack.

The Islamic Front, a coalition of rebel groups, claimed responsibility on Twitter, saying they had targeted a “gathering of Assad militia”.

Translation: “#Islamic_Front #Hamas_Countryside An explosion targeting groups of Assad’s militias in the Hama countryside in the Sehl al-Ghab area, by a car travelling from a distance kills tens of people.”

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 37 people were killed, including civilians and security personnel, adding that more than 40 had been wounded.

They said the death toll is likely to rise further, as many of those injured are in a critical condition.

More than 160,000 people have been killed in Syria’s brutal civil war, which began over three and a half years ago with peaceful protests.

Almost half of the population, around 9.5 million people, have been displaced from their homes, with no sign of an end to the conflict that has pitted a diverse set of rebel groups against government forces.

Fighting in Hama province has stepped up in recent weeks and, according to SANA, there were clashes overnight between government forces and rebel groups. The Syrian army has been on the offensive in the area, attempting to kill “terrorists” across various villages in Homs province, to the south of Hama.

A long-term siege on the old city of Homs recently came to an end, after a deal was struck between government forces and the remaining rebel fighters, though violence still racks the area.

A car bomb exploded on Thursday killing at least six people in a neighbourhood populated by Alawites.

No one claimed responsibility for what was the second attack in a week in Homs, Syria’s third largest city, but state media blamed it on rebel groups.