More than a dozen people have been killed in the Syrian coastal city of Latakia following a devastating explosion triggered by ordnance left over from the country’s 13-year-long conflict, according to a Sunday report from the Syrian Civil Defense. The blast, which ripped through a metal scrap storage area on the ground floor of a four-story residential building, caused the structure to collapse entirely, leaving a trail of destruction and loss.
The White Helmets, a volunteer paramedic organization, worked tirelessly overnight, combing through the rubble to rescue survivors and recover the deceased. Their efforts uncovered 16 bodies, among them five women and five children, underscoring the tragic toll on civilians. An additional 18 individuals were reported injured in the incident. Local residents and the White Helmets confirmed the explosion’s origin in the storage area, raising alarms about the persistent threat of unexploded ordnance scattered across the region.
The detonation in Latakia serves as a grim reminder of the lingering dangers from Syria’s prolonged war. The United Nations has repeatedly warned of the risks posed by such remnants, noting in a February report that approximately 100 people have perished due to unexploded devices over the past 13 years. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, authorities have neutralized over 1,400 such devices and identified 138 minefields and contaminated zones in critical provinces, including Latakia.
Meanwhile, Syria’s volatile security situation continues to deteriorate. In a separate development, the Syrian Defense Ministry accused the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of crossing the border and killing three Syrian soldiers, an allegation Hezbollah swiftly denied. Local Lebanese outlets reported Syrian shelling near the northeastern border town of Al-Qasr, further stoking tensions. The ministry condemned the alleged incursion as a “dangerous escalation” and promised a firm response, following recent skirmishes between Syrian troops and Lebanese clans.
Latakia, a strategically vital port city along Syria’s Mediterranean coast, has become a flashpoint for violence in recent weeks. The explosion follows a spate of clashes sparked by an ambush on a security patrol by gunmen loyal to Assad. The ensuing retaliatory attacks and government counter-offensives have devastated parts of the city, contributing to a death toll exceeding 1,000 in the broader wave of unrest.
The White Helmets and local voices have issued urgent warnings about the ongoing risks of unexploded ordnance, calling for increased efforts to clear contaminated areas. Sunday’s tragedy in Latakia highlights the human cost of Syria’s unresolved conflict, where even as the war’s frontlines shift, its deadly remnants continue to claim lives. As the nation grapples with political upheaval and regional tensions, the specter of such incidents looms large, threatening any hope of stability in the foreseeable future.
