Explosion rocks stronghold of Syrian President Assad. At least 25 dead

DEBKAfile was founded by a team of journalists in June 2000 as an independent Internet Web site, providing an intelligence and security news service. January 5, 2017, 5:41 PM (IDT)

A large explosion on Thursday in the northwestern Syrian city of Jableh killed at least 25 people, wounded 65 others and caused major damage to stores, houses and cars. The cause of the blast has yet to be confirmed but there are some assessments that the city was hit by a missile fired by Islamic State. The city on the Mediterranean coast considered one of the biggest strongholds of Syrian President Bashar Assad is home to a large community of Assad’s Alawite clan including some of his relatives. 

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