Series of powerful explosions rock Syrian army ammunition depot near Aleppo, injuring at least four

A massive explosion struck a Syrian army facility near the town of Al-Eis in the southern countryside of Aleppo early Monday, setting off a prolonged series of secondary detonations that injured at least four people and forced local emergency services to secure surrounding districts.

What occurred at the Al-Eis military site south of Aleppo?

According to official reports from the state news agency SANA and state-run broadcaster Al-Ikhbariya, the initial blast occurred at a Defense Ministry ammunition depot located in the vicinity of Al-Eis. The impact triggered a successive chain of secondary explosions, sending shockwaves across the region and producing large flames visible from Aleppo city's Hamdaniyeh district miles away.

Faisal Mohammad Ali, head of civil defense operations in Aleppo, confirmed that rescue personnel successfully evacuated four injured individuals from the perimeter. However, ongoing secondary cook-offs of stored munitions prevented firefighters and emergency teams from approaching the central compound. Authorities have opened an investigation into the exact cause of the initial blast.

How have regional authorities responded to protect public safety?

In response to the volatile security situation, Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib issued an emergency declaration urging residents to remain indoors and avoid traveling toward the southern countryside. Local healthcare networks, ambulance fleets, and hospital emergency units across Aleppo province were placed on full alert to handle potential casualties.

Additionally, the Internal Security Directorate in Aleppo closed key transport corridors, including sections of the main Aleppo-Damascus highway and local feeder roads leading toward Al-Eis, to prevent civilians from approaching the blast zone.

How does this incident fit into recent military depot explosions in Syria?

The blast in Al-Eis represents the latest in a series of unexplained munitions explosions across Syria as the nation navigates security stabilization following the removal of Bashar al-Assad's government in late 2024:

• Deir Ezzor: An explosion of unknown origin at an eastern military site on Friday, September 18, killed 11 people.
• Idlib Depot Blast: Earlier in September, a major explosion at a Defense Ministry weapons depot in northwestern Idlib province killed 14 people and injured 11 others.
• Idlib Munitions Transport: Just over a week prior to the Idlib depot incident, a vehicle transport carrying heavy munitions exploded in the same province, killing five people.