Damascus, Oct 19 (IANS) At least 16 soldiers were killed in a suicide bomb attack that rocked Syrian capital Damascus Saturday, Syria's state media said.

The blast targeted the suburb of Jaramana, Xinhua reported citing the SANA news agency. 

However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was quoted by Lebanese New TV as saying that the explosion was caused by a suicide car bomb at a military checkpoint in the suburb of Mlaiha.

It said at least 16 soldiers were killed in the blast. The suicide bomber was a member of the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra front, it added.

According to media reports, three mortar shells landed in Jaramana after the blast and caused loss of properties.