Explosion at Syrian weapons depot kills 14

An explosion ripped through a temporary weapons depot near the town of Sarmada in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people, local officials said. The blast occurred at a site that had been set up to store munitions in the area, which lies close to the Turkish border and has seen intermittent fighting between government forces and opposition groups. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but the force of the detonation caused extensive damage to nearby structures and left several others injured.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion, with security officials suggesting that mishandling of the ammunition or an external strike could be responsible. The incident adds to the growing number of accidental and targeted detonations in Syria’s volatile war zones, underscoring the risks associated with makeshift storage facilities. Further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.