Fourth Syrian Arms-Depot Explosion This Month Wounds Four Near Aleppo

A series of powerful explosions struck a Syrian army ammunition depot near Al-Eis, south of Aleppo, in the early hours of September 21, 2026, wounding at least four people — one by falling shrapnel. Secondary detonations sent projectiles into surrounding villages and forced the closure of the Aleppo-Damascus motorway; rescue teams initially could not reach the site. Syrian authorities gave no immediate explanation. It was the fourth such depot explosion in Syria in September 2026 alone — after Binnish, Idlib (Sept 1, 5 killed), Sarmada, Idlib (Sept 9, 14 killed) and Ayyash, Deir ez-Zor (Sept 19, 11 killed) — bringing a Reuters tally of similar blasts since Assad's fall to at least 16. Analysts remain split: one cited ageing, poorly climate-controlled Syrian ammunition storage; another said sabotage, including possible Israeli involvement given Israel's operations in the area, 'cannot be totally ruled out' with no public evidence for either explanation.