The attack came as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that troops had executed 48 people earlier this week in a northern village, among them 10 children.
"A man drove an ambulance packed with explosives into the parking of the Qardaha hospital. Another man was in the vehicle with him, but it was unclear whether he was an accomplice or a hostage. Four people were killed in the attack," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.
Earlier, state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
had reported the blast but did not specify the nature of the attack.
The attack, the first kaboom to hit the heart of the western town since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011, killed a nurse, a hospital employee and two soldiers, said Observatory director Abdel Rahman.
The outskirts of Qardaha have previously come under rocket fire, while Latakia province -- where the town is located -- has seen several rounds of heavy fighting.
A mausoleum containing the graves of
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Terror of Aleppo ...
's father and predecessor, Hafez, and brother Bassil, is located in Qardaha.
The clan has ruled Syria with an iron fist for more than 40 years.