Syrian authorities are investigating an explosion near Aleppo that occurred on Sunday evening.
It is the latest mysterious explosion in Syria that has appeared to occur at an arms depot. There have been several in the last two weeks. Most commentators agree that while one or two accidental explosions are possible, the recent ones appear to fit a pattern.
Syrian state media noted that “an explosion struck a Syrian Arab Army weapons depot near al-Eis in southern Aleppo countryside early Monday, with the Defense Ministry opening an investigation into the cause, as authorities secured the site and emergency teams responded in surrounding areas.”
The report added that the authorities were investigating “the causes of explosions at several military sites, the latest of which occurred at a weapons depot near the town of al-Eis. The ministry said protecting military personnel and civilians, establishing the facts, and determining responsibility were priorities, adding that measures would be taken based on the investigation’s findings to protect personnel and military sites and prevent similar incidents.”
Syria is trying to transition to stability after years of war. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces recently dissolved themselves and are integrating into the Syrian security forces. As the country unifies, one of the challenges has been integrating various armed units under a unified command.
Syria was divided from 2011 to early 2026. Some areas were controlled by the same group throughout much of this time. For instance, the government of Syria is largely staffed by members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which ran Idlib for many years.
As the country transitioned, it became necessary to rebuild its armed forces. Syria needs a modern army in order to keep security threats, such as ISIS, in check. For instance, last week an ISIS cell south of Damascus engaged in a firefight with members of the Interior Ministry. Syria also needs to standardize the new integrated units that include thousands of SDF fighters.
Uncertainty, concern growing in Syria
As all this takes place, there is uncertainty and concern in Syria. The explosions at arms depots lead to rumors. At the recent site of an explosion, which lit up the night sky near Aleppo, military police were deployed. SANA says “engineering units began securing the site and surrounding areas.
Civil Defense officials separately reported four people injured amid a series of explosions in the al-Hadaba area west of al-Eis. Emergency teams evacuated residents from nearby homes and closed roads leading to the area.”
The Damascus-Aleppo highway had to be closed as well. “The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management warned residents against approaching the area because of the risk of shrapnel and unexploded ordnance, urging them not to return to evacuated areas until authorities declare them safe.”
Arab News noted last week that “Syrian authorities on Saturday said an explosion of unknown origin killed 11 people at a military site in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor the previous day.”
“The defense ministry held a funeral procession for 11 of its martyrs, who were killed in an explosion at one of the Syrian Arab Army sites” in Deir Ezzor province, the official SANA news agency said.
Arab News also noted that “several such blasts have previously occurred at arms depots in Syria, which is emerging from more than a decade of civil war following the toppling of longtime ruler Bashar Assad in late 2024. Earlier this month, an explosion at an arms depot in the northwest killed 14 people.”
Suspicion to grow if explosions continue
If the explosions continue, suspicion will continue to grow. Levant24 has highlighted that the Aleppo explosion is the fourth this month.
The explosions come amid some tensions with Israel and also between Israel and Turkey. In August, Israel carried out an airstrike on a Syrian military base. “Israel and Syria agreed to a status quo in security matters, which Syria was on the verge of breaching by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo,” Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office noted on August 18.