BEIRUT: In a recent incident underscoring the ongoing volatility in Syria’s conflict-ridden landscape, a powerful blast struck a munitions depot situated northeast of the Syrian capital on Tuesday. This incident resulted in casualties, according to reports from a respected war monitoring group. The explosion occurred merely two days following a similar event that targeted warehouses owned by pro-Iran groups.
The morning detonation took place within a depot housing an assortment of “missiles and ammunition.” This facility is located in an area to the northeast of Damascus, a region that holds significance due to its affiliation with Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an organization with an extensive network of sources within Syria, provided details about this incident. However, the specific number of casualties resulting from the blast near the town of Al-Ruhaiba remains unspecified at this time.
At present, the exact cause of this explosion remains shrouded in uncertainty. Surprisingly, Syrian state media refrained from immediate coverage of the incident. This incident closely followed a similar event just two days prior, as reported by the Observatory. This earlier explosion targeted missile warehouses linked to pro-Iran groups located in a mountainous area to the west of the capital.
The head of the Observatory, Rami Abdel Rahman, expressed uncertainty regarding the origin of the blast on Sunday, stating, “We don’t know if it was from an air strike or ground operation.” Over the course of more than a decade of conflict in Syria, it’s neighbouring nation, Israel, has carried out numerous air strikes within Syrian territory. The primary targets of these airstrikes have included Iran-backed forces, Hezbollah combatants, and positions held by the Syrian army.
Israel has consistently maintained a reticent stance on its involvement in such strikes on Syrian soil. The nation’s recurring declaration is that it will not permit Iran, its long-standing adversary, to increase its influence within the region. Supported by Iranian and Russian backing, the administration of President Bashar Assad has successfully reclaimed a substantial portion of the territory that was initially lost to rebel groups during the earlier skirmishes erupting in 2011. This prolonged war has led to immense human suffering, with a death toll surpassing 500,000 individuals, widespread displacement, and profound damage to the country’s essential infrastructure and industrial base.
