Explosion in Syria weapons warehouse
An explosion at a weapons warehouse in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province killed at least 14 people and injured 11 on Wednesday, state television reported, citing the health ministry. The site had been used to store weapons and ammunition left from Syria’s uprising and subsequent civil war, which began in 2011 and continued until the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in 2024, the state-run SANA news agency reported. An Associated Press photographer at the scene reported seeing bodies being recovered.
Officials have not yet said whether the explosion was caused by accidental detonation, mishandling of stored weapons or another factor. The blast took place near Sarmada, close to the Turkish border, although authorities did not immediately establish what triggered the explosion. The scale of the blast was captured in footage circulated after the incident, showing a large column of black smoke rising from the area. Several smaller explosions could also be heard in the recordings. Civil defence teams and Syrian Red Crescent responders moved into the area to search through the debris for people who may have been trapped. The explosion highlights the continuing danger posed by weapons and remnants of war left behind after years of fighting across Syria. Such blasts are not uncommon in areas affected by the conflict, where unexploded ordnance and abandoned military material remain a persistent hazard. Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.