Massive explosions at Syrian army weapons depot near Aleppo

Syria's Aleppo experienced a series of explosive blasts overnight, triggering a devastating fire and sending projectiles across nearby villages. The initial blast occurred at an ammunition depot in the early hours of Monday, followed by a cascade of detonations that continued throughout the night. Eyewitness video footage captured towering columns of smoke and bright streaks streaking across the night sky, visually documenting the widespread impact.

State media reported four casualties, though the extent of the damage remained unclear. Civil defense personnel initially hesitated to approach the site due to the ongoing threat of explosions, prompting road closures and evacuation warnings. The cause of the blasts remained a mystery, with authorities refraining from offering an explanation.

An expert from the private Syria TV channel suggested an external factor, citing the scale of the explosions as evidence. He outlined potential scenarios, including sabotage, planted explosives, or remnants from previous conflicts. However, he believed the sheer number of explosions strongly pointed towards a deliberate act. Some speculated the explosions might have been carried out by Israeli aircraft, though no solid evidence was provided to support such claims.

The recent explosions follow a pattern of similar incidents targeting Syrian military sites. On September 1, five individuals were killed when munitions detonated during a transfer in Idlib's Binnish. Eight days later, an explosion at a weapons storage facility near Sarmada in Idlib claimed 14 lives. The latest incident occurred on Saturday, striking a weapons cache in Ayyash, west of Deir Ezzor, resulting in 11 military personnel fatalities.

Syria analyst Charles Lister pointed out the rapid succession of explosions at three arms depots within an 11-day span, suggesting the events were highly unlikely to be coincidental. He cautioned about storage practices, stating that the frequency of these incidents warranted further investigation.