At least 14 killed in weapons depot blast in Syria’s Idlib, state TV says

A temporary ammunition storage facility near Sarmada in north-west Syria's Idlib province exploded, resulting in fatalities and injuries, according to local health officials. Sobhi Assaf, media director at the Idlib Health Directorate, reported nine people were injured in the blast. He stated that rescue teams were struggling to retrieve victims due to the ongoing explosions caused by the ammunition.

The Syrian Defence Ministry confirmed the explosion, stating that it occurred near Sarmada and injured some of their personnel. Local sources also revealed civilian casualties in the incident. The cause of the explosion remains unknown. This tragedy follows an ammunition-laden vehicle explosion in nearby Binnish, which killed at least five people and injured five others, as reported by Syrian state media.

Idlib province, once a rebel stronghold during the civil war, now houses numerous weapon depots and a largely armed population. The area saw an 11-day offensive by rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham in December 2024, ultimately leading to the regime of Bashar Al Assad's downfall. The former members of this group now govern the region.