Massive explosions at a Syrian army site in Aleppo

A series of consecutive explosions rocked a Syrian Army site near the town of Al-Eis, south of Aleppo, overnight Sunday-Monday, prompting official warnings against approaching or gathering near the blast site.

The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced the closure of the Damascus-Aleppo international highway at the Ebla University junction and the Khan Tuman bridge (Aleppo side) following the explosions in the Al-Eis area. Syrian state media reported that the blasts occurred at a Syrian Army facility in the vicinity.

Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib urged residents to stay indoors and avoid the blast site or gathering nearby to ensure their safety and that of emergency response teams. He confirmed via his X (formerly Twitter) account that hospitals, ambulance services, and emergency teams were on high alert.

Faisal Mohammed, the Civil Defense operations commander in Aleppo, stated that the ongoing explosions in Al-Eis were hindering ambulance and rescue teams from reaching the scene, and he warned civilians against approaching the site.

Circulated video footage showed massive explosions and simultaneous fires at the location. Syria TV reported that the number of explosions in the Al-Eis area had risen to five, noting that blasts resumed at the same site after a brief pause.

The nature and cause of the explosions, as well as whether there were any casualties, have not yet been confirmed.

This incident occurred one day after Syrian authorities announced the recovery of six bodies, the search for missing persons, and the injury of nine others following an incident at an arms depot at an army site in the Ayyash area, west of Deir ez-Zor governorate. The Deir ez-Zor Governorate stated: "An explosion occurred yesterday at an arms depot within a Syrian Arab Army position near the town of Ayyash, west of Deir ez-Zor Governorate, resulting in a number of fatalities and injuries to nine others." It explained that "following the explosion, the site was secured and necessary measures were taken to address the aftermath, while an investigation was launched to determine the causes and circumstances of the incident."