Disasters & Incidents
Aleppo munitions depot blasts injure at least four
At least four people were injured after a series of explosions at an ammunition depot at an army site near Aleppo in northern Syria early Monday, Syrian state media reported.
State news agency SANA said the explosions occurred near the town of Al-Eis. The cause was not immediately known.
SANA later quoted the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management as saying one civilian was injured by shrapnel from the explosion at an ammunition depot. Two civilians suffered temporary breathing difficulties, and another civilian was injured in a traffic accident while trying to flee the blast area, the ministry said.
Syria's civil defence teams transported the injured and evacuated three families from the blast site. They remained on high alert because explosions were continuing, according to the ministry.
Aleppo civil defence operations chief Faisal Mohammad Ali, quoted earlier by the state-run Al-Ikhbariya channel, said the explosions had prevented emergency services from reaching the site quickly.
Aleppo governor Azzam al-Gharib urged residents not to leave their homes for the time being and said hospitals, ambulance crews and emergency teams were on full alert. Aleppo's Internal Security Command, quoted by SANA, said roads leading to the site were closed to protect civilians.
A resident of Aleppo's Hamdaniyeh neighbourhood told AFP they heard a huge explosion and saw large flames in the distance from a roof.
Several similar blasts have previously occurred in Syria, which is emerging from more than a decade of civil war after longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled in late 2024. An explosion of unknown origin killed 11 people at a military site in Deir Ezzor province on Friday. Earlier this month, an explosion at a Ministry of Defense weapons depot killed 14 people and injured 11 in Idlib province. Five people were killed just over a week earlier in the same area when a vehicle carrying munitions exploded.
Update
Syrian state media reported at least four people were injured following the explosions.
SANA later described the site as an ammunition depot, quoting the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management.
The ministry said one civilian was injured by shrapnel, two civilians had temporary breathing difficulties and another civilian was injured in a traffic accident while fleeing the area.
Civil defence teams evacuated three families from the blast site and remained on high alert because explosions were continuing.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 September 2026 at 04:36:55 UTC.
Update
Syrian state media said the explosion occurred at a Syrian army site near Al-Eis.
Aleppo's governor urged residents to stay home for the time being.
Hospitals, ambulance and emergency teams were put on full alert, according to the governor.
Roads leading to the explosion site were closed for civilian safety.
A resident told AFP they saw large flames in the distance after hearing a huge explosion.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 September 2026 at 23:58:43 UTC.
Update
Several similar blasts have previously occurred in Syria as the country emerges from more than a decade of civil war after Bashar al-Assad was toppled in late 2024.
An explosion of unknown origin killed 11 people at a military site in Deir Ezzor province on Friday.
Earlier in September, an explosion at a Ministry of Defense weapons depot killed 14 people and injured 11 in Idlib province.
Five people were killed just over a week earlier in the same area when a vehicle carrying munitions exploded.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 September 2026 at 23:28:22 UTC.
Update
Syrian state television said a blast was heard in the Al-Eis area in the southern Aleppo countryside.
State media said the incident was being investigated.
Aleppo civil defence operations chief Faisal Mohammad Ali said ongoing explosions were hampering emergency access.
Faisal Mohammad Ali warned civilians not to approach the area.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 September 2026 at 23:16:58 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The cause of the Aleppo-area explosions was not immediately known.
The casualty details are based on Syrian state media and ministry reporting.
Explosions were reported to be continuing, and the final scale of damage or casualties was not clear.
Source
AFP news report published on .