Deadly Car Bombing Hits Assad Clan's Hometown

A monitoring group said a suicide car bomber driving an ambulance killed at least four people in Qardaha, the ruling Assad clan's hometown in western Syria on February 22.

The British-based Observatory for Human Rights said two women and two soldiers were killed in the blast, which also killed the bomber and an accomplice.

State television reported the blast but didn't specify the nature of the attack.

The attack took place in the parking of Qardaha hospital.

A mausoleum containing the graves of President Bashar al-Assad's father and predecessor, Hafez, and brother Bassil, is located in Qardaha, in Syria's Latakia province.

The clan has ruled Syria with an iron fist for more than 40 years.

Based on reporting by AFP and AlJazeera.com