Explosion kills soldier near Syrian defense ministry building in Damascus

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least one Syrian soldier was killed and several others were wounded on Tuesday when a booby-trapped vehicle detonated near a defense ministry building in Damascus, according to state media.

Syrian state television, citing the defense ministry, said an army unit “discovered an explosive device prepared for detonation near a defense ministry building” in Damascus’ Bab Sharqi area.

“The device was dealt with immediately, and as it was being dismantled, a booby-trapped vehicle exploded in the same area, which led to the martyrdom of one soldier and the injury of others with varying wounds,” according to the defense ministry.

Earlier, Syrian state media cited a security source as saying the explosion occurred near an armament management center in the Syrian capital.

The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) cited Najib al-Naasan, director of emergency services at the Syrian health ministry, as reporting that “the car explosion caused 12 injuries” and that “the wounded were transferred to nearby hospitals in the area and provided with the necessary medical treatment.”

The incident comes as Damascus has, since the late 2024 ouster of longtime Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, witnessed occasional explosions and security violations.

This is a developing story…