A car bomb in the city of Azaz on Wednesday evening, killed nine and injured 13 others, according to the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets. The explosion, which occurred at the Al-Shatt checkpoint of the military police at the western entrance to Azaz, was exacerbated by subsequent missile bombardment from areas controlled by the Assad regime and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The blast originated from a truck bomb disguised as a goods refrigerator, detonating while parked at the checkpoint. The explosion caused extensive damage, including the destruction of seven motorcycles and three cars. Rescue operations were immediately complicated by missile attacks targeting the area, leading to further chaos and injuries.
The White Helmets reported that five teams, comprising firefighting, ambulance, and rescue units, responded to the scene. The teams utilized two fire engines, a fire attaché, two ambulances, a rescue vehicle, a service vehicle, and a small engineering vehicle with a hydraulic crane.
During the evacuation and rescue efforts, the area was bombarded with rockets from regions under the joint control of Assad regime forces and the SDF. This forced the rescue teams to temporarily retreat to avoid further casualties. The attack targeted a vital road linking Azaz and Afrin, coinciding with the time when employees and university students were commuting home.
The northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo, controlled by the Syrian National Army (SNA), frequently experiences bombings aimed at both civilian and military targets. On March 31, a car bomb in Azaz’s market killed four civilians and injured several others, coinciding with the pre-Eid al-Fitr shopping rush. The Levant Front, part of the SNA, arrested two suspects in that bombing who confessed to collaborating with the SDF for a $700 payment.
The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) condemned the attack, calling for those responsible to be identified and punished. The SNC emphasized the need for heightened security in liberated areas to protect civilians from terrorist threats and maintain stability. They stressed the importance of eliminating terrorist militias to prevent chaos and violence in the region.
The Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) attributed the bombing to the SDF, labeling the attack as an act of “criminal terrorism” by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – to whom the SDF is aligned. The ministry vowed those responsible would face “severe repercussions” and underscored their commitment to avenging the victims.
Investigations have commenced to identify the perpetrators of the attack. The Ministry of Defense assured that the involved parties would be brought to justice and that the PKK’s terrorist actions against civilians would not go unpunished. The incident highlights the ongoing volatility in the region, where bombings and attacks by militant factions frequently disrupt efforts to maintain peace and stability.
The SNC also held the Assad regime ultimately accountable for the ongoing violence and instability in the country, advocating for a political solution in line with international resolutions to restore security and stability to Syria.
