Car bombs strike predominantly Druze Syrian province, activists say 4 killed including sheikh

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syrian state-run news agency SANA says two rare explosions in a province in southern Syria have caused a number of casualties.

The car bombs went off Friday near the National Hospital in the predominantly Druze stronghold of Sweida. The agency did not say how many people were killed.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said at least four people were killed in the bombings including a Druze sheikh known for his opposition to President Bashar Assad's government.

Explosions have been rare in Sweida, which has stayed largely on the sideline in the country's civil war.

SANA also said three people were killed and 13 wounded Friday by six mortar shells that struck Jaramana in the countryside of Damascus.