Blast at Syria Arms Depot Kills Five, Injures Nine

Blast at Syria Arms Depot Kills Five, Injures Nine

An explosion at a weapons depot in northwest Syria’s Idlib province killed five people and injured nine others on Wednesday, security forces reported.

The blast occurred in the town of Kafr Takharim at a warehouse storing missiles and ammunition. Authorities said the explosion happened during nearby work at the site.

State television confirmed the casualties but did not provide details on the cause of the blast.

Images circulating online showed widespread destruction, fires, and damage to farmland, while videos captured shrapnel reaching nearby shops and residential buildings.

Idlib was once a stronghold of rebel and jihadist groups, including foreign fighters, before forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad seized control last December. Some armed factions and foreign fighters still maintain bases in the region.

Earlier explosions in the province have caused significant casualties. In August, four people died in a depot blast on Idlib’s outskirts. A month prior, at least 12 people were killed and about 120 wounded in a series of explosions at an arms depot linked to the Uyghur-dominated Turkistan Islamic Party in Maaret Misrin, according to monitoring groups.