Blast kills two at bus station in Syria's central city of Hama
At least two people were killed and several wounded on Thursday in a bomb blast at a bus station in the central Syrian city of Hama, state media reported.
"A terrorist with an explosive belt blew himself up at the western bus station in Hama," state television said.
State news agency SANA confirmed the bomb blast and gave a toll of two dead and nine wounded.
On Sunday, a bomb killed 20 people and wounded dozens more in Damascus.
Hama city is the capital of the governorate of the same name, and is under government control.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Last month, Syria's President Bashar al-Assad made a rare public appearance outside the capital when he attended Eid al-Fitr prayers in Hama city.
The city has been largely spared the devastation faced by Syrian urban centres like Aleppo, although it has been struck by occasional violence.
In October, at least two people were killed in suicide blasts claimed by the Islamic State group.
Across the rest of the province however, government forces are still battling militant fighters and allied opposition forces.
Regime forces, backed by heavy Russian air strikes, launched a major assault in June on territory held by IS in rural parts of Hama.
The province is of strategic importance to Assad, separating opposition forces in Idlib from Damascus to the south and the regime's coastal heartlands to the west.
More than 320,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
