Lattakia: Leftover explosives from Syria’s 13-year war went off in Latakia, a city on the coast. The blast collapsed part of a four-story building and killed at least 16 people, including five women and five children on late Sunday night, according to Syrian Civil Defense.
The group known as the White Helmets worked through the night to search the rubble and recover 16 bodies. Officials said the explosion occured in a metal scrap storage area on the building’s ground floor. In addition, 18 people were injured.
Later that night, the Syrian Defense Ministry said that the Lebanese Hezbollah group crossed the border from Lebanon into Syria and killed three Syrian soldiers. Hezbollah denied any involvement. Local Lebanese media also reported that Syrian forces shelled the town of Al-Qasr near the border. The Defense Ministry said it would take "all the necessary measures" after this rise in violence.
In February, the United Nations reported that about 100 people had died from similar explosions during the past 13 years of conflict. Since President Bashar al-Assad was removed in December, more than 1,400 unexploded devices have been safely cleared, and 138 minefields and dangerous areas have been found in regions such as Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, and Latakia.
Latakia, an important port city, has seen more violence recently. Gunmen loyal to Assad attacked a security patrol, which led to a strong response by the government and its allies. This response crushed the insurgents but also led to much destruction and revenge attacks against the Alawite community, causing over 1,000 deaths in clashes and retaliatory violence.
