A powerful explosion rocked a military base near the town of al-Eis in southern Aleppo province, followed by a whole series of secondary detonations inside the facility. According to the state-run SANA news agency, which cited Faisal Muhammad Ali, head of Aleppo operations at the emergency management department, rescuers evacuated four injured people, while specialists continued evacuating residents from nearby homes in case of further incidents. Activists circulated videos on social media showing fireballs and fragments flying across the military facility as a result of the explosions.
The incident in al-Eis became the latest link in a chain of incidents at Syrian army weapons and ammunition depots that occurred in different parts of the country during September alone. On the first of the month, a vehicle carrying ammunition exploded near Bensh in the Idlib countryside; on the ninth, a weapons and ammunition depot exploded near Sarmada in the same province. On September 12, ammunition detonated at a military depot in al-Dumayr near Damascus; on the 18th, a similar incident occurred in the Ayash area of Deir ez-Zor province. The series culminated in powerful explosions at a depot in al-Eis on September 21.
The frequent recurrence of such incidents in different parts of the country over such a short period has triggered a wave of doubts among bloggers and activists. Many believe that what they have witnessed does not resemble a series of accidental incidents, but rather intentional explosions or the result of sabotage. “What is happening makes absolutely no sense! Every few days we hear about an explosion at a weapons depot—and it is only natural to ask: what is the real cause of this chain of events?” one user wrote. Another asked: if improper storage was to blame, why was the problem not addressed after the very first incident?
Particular criticism was directed at what commentators called the Defense Ministry’s “suspicious silence” and delay in issuing official explanations. In their view, the military authorities should have launched a broad investigation after the second explosion and informed the public of its findings. “Silence is no longer a solution—whatever the case, the situation is serious and frightening, and we are losing dozens of people,” an appeal to the ministry stated. Activists are demanding urgent explanations—whether the cause was deliberate sabotage or a failure in the storage system—in order to put an end to rumors and understand what to expect next.
At the same time, another part of the audience has adopted a different view: rather than rushing to the theory of “systematic sabotage” without substantial evidence, attention should focus on complex technical and logistical factors. Supporters of this approach point out that Syria holds enormous quantities of ammunition and military supplies produced more than a decade ago and stored under unknown conditions. “The problem in Syria is not only that we have huge quantities of ammunition more than ten years old—the problem is that some of it spent those years in storage conditions whose compliance with even minimal standards we know absolutely nothing about,” explained Nawar Shaaban.
According to these observers, the current operations to move, regroup and store supplies make the theory of “poor storage and the effects of weather and time” one of the leading and entirely plausible explanations. Technical failure is considered the most likely cause, although sabotage has not been completely ruled out; those advancing that theory are being asked to provide conclusive evidence. The dispute erupted against the backdrop of the Defense Ministry’s announcement that the funerals of 11 servicemen killed in an explosion at an army facility in the Ayash area west of Deir ez-Zor on September 18 would be held. As confirmed by SANA, the official farewell ceremony took place on Saturday at the National Hospital in the city of Deir ez-Zor, attended by a number of civilian and military officials.
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Who is Nawar Shaaban, whose opinion is cited in the article, and why should his assessment of the causes of the explosions be regarded as expert? — Nawar Shaaban is a Syrian military and strategic analyst and journalist specializing in the Syrian conflict and military infrastructure. His assessment is considered expert because he professionally monitors military operations, the structure of the Syrian army, logistics and weapons stockpiles; he relies on open-source data, knowledge of local conditions and experience analyzing similar incidents. At the same time, his view remains an expert theory, not official confirmation of the causes of the explosions.
Why are the areas of al-Eis, Ayash and al-Dumayr strategically important to the Syrian army, and how do military logistics routes pass through them? — al-Dumayr is a hub on the M5 highway—Damascus–Homs–Aleppo—and the site of a military airbase. Troop movements and supplies between Damascus, Homs and northern Syria pass through it. al-Eis and Ayash are strongholds in eastern Homs and on the approaches to Deir ez-Zor, along the Homs–Palmyra–Deir ez-Zor route and desert roads. This chain links central Syria with the eastern regions, oil and gas fields, and the Iraqi border, supporting logistics for the Syrian army and allied forces, including supplies from Iran via Iraq. Control of these areas makes it possible to maintain communications, supply garrisons in the east and protect rear routes from being cut off.
Why has Syria accumulated huge stocks of ammunition more than ten years old, and what storage conditions make them particularly dangerous? — The stocks accumulated over decades: through mass arms purchases and production during the Soviet period, preparations for war with Israel, the civil war that began in 2011, foreign deliveries, the capture of depots, and the absence of centralized accounting and a disposal program. Ammunition is often stored in open areas, temporary warehouses, tunnels and hangars without climate control, amid extreme heat, temperature fluctuations, dust and humidity. Containers and fuzes become damaged, components deteriorate, and different types of ammunition are mixed together. This increases the risk of spontaneous fires, detonations and chain reactions, turning depots into dangerous facilities, especially when they are located near residential areas.
Full version: "Sabotage or Poor Storage?" The Mystery of the Series of Explosions at Military Sites in Syria