Mortar attack kills at least 22 in Syria's Latakia

The toll in a deadly mortar attack in the Syrian coastal city of Latakia on Tuesday rose to 22 killed and dozens more wounded, state media reported.

State television said the toll rose to "22 people killed and 62 wounded" in the attack on eastern neighbourhoods of the Syrian regime's coastal bastion.

State TV said two shells hit an area near Tishrin Universiy. The information on the group or groups behind the attack has not been announced.

TV footage showed at least one car on fire and several others, including a minibus, hit with shrapnel. Blood could be seen on the road.

Syrian government forces have been on the offensive in the mountains overlooking Latakia in recent weeks under the cover of Russian airstrikes.

Latakia lies in the heartland of the minority Alawite sect to which Syria's ruling clan belongs and has been largely spared attack during four and a half years of civil war.