Syrian state TV says car bomb in port city of Latakia kills 7, wounds more than 40

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrians gather at the site of a car bombing in the port city of Latakia, Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015. A car bomb exploded in a square in the Syrian port city of Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar Assad, killing at least 10 people and wounding 25, the official Syrian news agency SANA said. (SANA via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, residents and emergency personnel gather at the site of a car bombing in a square the port city of Latakia, Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015. The car bomb exploded in Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar Assad, killing at least 10 people and wounding 25, the official Syrian news agency SANA said. (SANA via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, residents and emergency personnel gather at the site of a car bombing at a square in the port city of Latakia, Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015. The car bomb exploded in Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar Assad, killing at least 10 people and wounding 25, the official Syrian news agency SANA said. (SANA via AP) (The Associated Press)

Syrian state TV says seven people were killed and more than 40 wounded by a car bomb in the port city of Latakia.

The report says the blast went off in the city's Hamam Square on Wednesday, but provided no further details.

Latakia is a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose forces are locked in a civil war with an array of rebel groups, including Islamic militants. Last month, rebels shelled Latakia, killing six people and wounding 19.

Still, Latakia has largely remained on the sidelines of the conflict that began in 2011, and explosions in the city have been rare.