Powerful Explosion Rocks Syrian Army Base Near Aleppo, Injuring at Least Four

ALEPPO, Syria — A series of powerful explosions ripped through a Syrian military site early Monday morning, September 21, 2026 near the town of Al-Eis, south of Aleppo, injuring at least four people and triggering secondary detonations across the area.

The blasts, which occurred at a Defense Ministry ammunition depot, sent massive plumes of smoke and fire visible from neighboring districts, prompting emergency services to launch immediate evacuation efforts.

Local officials confirmed that the primary blast occurred early in the morning and was followed by a relentless series of secondary explosions as stored munitions cooked off.

Emergency rescue workers evacuated four injured individuals from the surrounding area, with casualties including a civilian struck by flying shrapnel, people suffering from smoke-induced respiratory issues, and a person injured in a traffic collision caused by initial evacuation panic. However, ongoing cook-offs and flying debris created severe obstacles for first responders, forcing emergency crews and firefighters to maintain a safety perimeter and temporarily delaying direct access to the epicenter of the blast.

Faisal Mohammad Ali, head of civil defense operations in Aleppo, warned that unpredictable secondary detonations pose a serious threat to first responders and nearby communities.

In response to the escalating situation, Syrian authorities enacted widespread security measures across southern Aleppo province. The Internal Security Directorate placed regional personnel on high alert, completely shutting down the major Aleppo–Damascus highway alongside several secondary access roads. Concurrently, Aleppo Governor Azzam Al-Gharib issued urgent shelter-in-place advisory, directing residents to stay indoors and refrain from approaching the blast site or blocking routes used by emergency vehicles.

Civil defense crews evacuated several families from homes immediately adjacent to the military facility due to unexploded ordnance and shrapnel risks.

The exact cause of the initial explosion remains unknown, and Defense Ministry officials have launched an investigation into the incident.

This incident follows a string of similar ammunition depot explosions across the region in recent weeks, highlighting ongoing security and safety challenges surrounding military storage sites. Regional medical facilities and trauma units throughout Aleppo remain on standby as emergency personnel monitor the facility.