DAMASCUS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- An explosion occurred on Wednesday in the rebel-held northern city of Afrin, causing casualties, Kurdish activists reported.

The explosion took place near a cultural center, which is used as a base for the Turkey-backed rebels in the center part of Afrin, according to the report.

After the explosion, the rebels cordoned off the area and prevented civilians from entering while ambulances were seen taking the wounded to hospitals in the city.

There has been no information yet on the number of casualties or whether they were militants or civilians.

The blast comes three days after an explosive device ripped through a bus in the city, which killed three people and wounded nine others.

The recent explosions coincide with the anniversary of the Turkey-backed rebels' entry to Afrin, which was controlled by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

Afrin enclave had been controlled by the YPG and other allied militia groups.

Last year, Turkey spearheaded an operation to dislodge the YPG and took control of the city with the help of its allied rebels in northern Syria.

Several explosions have rocked the city since it fell to the Turkey-backed rebels.

Around 350,000 people were displaced from Afrin when the Ankara-backed rebels took control. Enditem

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