A detonated car exploded at the main entrance of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing close to the Cilvegözü border gate in the southern province of Hatay, reported Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Tuesday afternoon.

According to initial reports, the explosion of a bomb loaded car has left seven people dead and at least 25 wounded.

The explosion has reportedly occurred at a roadblock manned by Islamist brigades at the entrance of the rebel-held crossing, several hundred meters from the Turkish side. An explosion in the same area had killed 18 people and wounded 24 others on 11 February.

The blast occured after a Turkish warplane dropped a Syrian helicopter in Reef Latakia, near Hatay's Yayladağ district, for allegedly entering Turkish airspace on Monday.

Ambulances at Cilvegözü border gate have rushed to the scene of the blast.