Explosions rock weapons depot near Damascus, Syria war monitor reports

Explosions on January 5 shook an area near Damascus that housed weapons depots once used by the ousted government of Bashar Al Assad, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The blasts occurred in the Kisweh area, south of the Syrian capital, and are suspected to have resulted from an Israeli air strike, the Britain-based monitor reported. The Israeli military, however, denied involvement, telling AFP in Jerusalem that it had not attacked the site, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"Loud blasts resonated in the wider capital area," the Observatory stated, adding that the explosions originated from ammunition depots belonging to former regime forces. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising over the site, located near the town of Kisweh.

An AFP video journalist observed small fires burning in the charred remains of a flattened building on the town’s outskirts. Nearby structures, mostly single-storey buildings, appeared undamaged.

Explosions continued into the evening, echoing across the surrounding areas, eyewitnesses said.

Israel has conducted numerous air strikes on military sites across Syria since Assad's regime was toppled by Islamist-led forces last month. These strikes, which Israel rarely comments on, are aimed at preventing advanced weapons from falling into hostile hands.

Last Friday, Israeli warplanes reportedly targeted military sites in the Aleppo area, according to the Observatory. Meanwhile, an explosion at an arms storage facility in the Adra area northeast of Damascus in late December killed 11 people, with speculation of Israeli involvement, though Israel denied any role in the incident.

By Vugar Khalilov