DAMASCUS, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- A powerful explosion heard across the western outskirts of Damascus on Thursday morning was caused by a controlled detonation of war remnants, local media reported.
Syria's al-Ikhbariya TV said the blast occurred along the Saboura road, a strategic route linking the capital to the Lebanese border, during a scheduled operation by Syrian military engineering units to dispose of unexploded ordnance recovered from former conflict zones. Officials said there were no casualties or property damage.
Such controlled explosions are routinely carried out to clear unexploded munitions and war debris from areas around major cities, particularly along former front lines and supply routes.
However, the sound of explosions often sparks alarm among residents as Damascus remains on heightened alert amid recent regional instability and sporadic violence.
In June 2025, at least one attacker opened fire and detonated an explosive device inside Damascus's Mar Elias Church, killing at least 30 people and wounding 54 others. The extremist group Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, led by former Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) official Abu Aisha al-Shami, later claimed responsibility.
HTS led a sweeping offensive in late 2024 that toppled the government of former President Bashar al-Assad and now controls the interim authority of Syria. ■
