Syrian Defense Ministry opens investigation into repeated explosions at various military sites

The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced that it has opened investigations to determine the causes of the explosions that have occurred at several military sites recently, resulting in dozens of casualties. The ministry’s Media and Communications Directorate confirmed yesterday that the relevant authorities are continuing their investigation into the causes of the explosions at certain military locations, the latest of which was the explosion of an ammunition depot near the town of Al-Ais, south of Aleppo, in the early hours of yesterday.

In a statement carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Directorate emphasized that protecting military personnel and civilians, uncovering the facts, and establishing accountability are among the ministry’s top priorities. It affirmed that it will take the necessary measures based on the findings of the investigations to ensure the safety of individuals and sites and to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

The Directorate clarified that the ministry will soon announce the confirmed information obtained from the investigations, in a manner that does not interfere with or compromise the integrity of the ongoing proceedings.

Earlier yesterday, the Media and Communications Directorate had stated that the explosion at the weapons depot near Al-Ais resulted in four injuries and no fatalities, in addition to material damage. It noted that military police were deployed in the area surrounding the site to secure it in coordination with the relevant authorities, and that military engineering units had begun securing the explosion site and its surroundings.

Teams from the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management also launched search and inspection operations in the areas surrounding the site to ensure there were no additional casualties.

This is the fourth similar incident involving Syrian weapons depots in less than a month, raising numerous questions about the timing and nature of the explosions, and whether they were accidental or deliberate.

Civil Defense announced that four people were injured in the explosion, including a civilian hit by shrapnel and two individuals who experienced temporary breathing difficulties. The fourth person was injured in a traffic accident while attempting to leave the area. They were transported to hospitals, and three families were evacuated from the vicinity of the site.

Faisal Muhammad Ali, Commander of Operations in Aleppo for the Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management, told SANA that the continued explosions hindered the arrival of ambulance and rescue teams until Civil Defense units were able to enter the area and evacuate the injured.

The Internal Security Command in Aleppo Governorate mobilized its personnel and closed the Aleppo-Damascus highway and roads leading to the explosion sites in the southern part of the governorate, to ensure the safety of residents and to clear the way for ambulance, Civil Defense, and other specialized teams.

Aleppo Governor Azam Al-Gharib urged residents not to leave their homes or head to the explosion sites or gather nearby, noting that teams from the Defense and Emergency ministries were working at the site gradually and cautiously due to the potential for further hazards or explosions, in order to ensure everyone’s safety.