Massive explosion targets Iranian base in Syria’s Aleppo: reports

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A massive explosion targeted an Iranian weapons depot in Syria late Saturday following Western airstrikes less than 24 hours earlier on targets believed to be responsible for a chemical attack in eastern Ghouta, Arabic-language media reported.

The weapons depot, located in Mount Azzan near Aleppo, is considered one of the largest in the country and was allegedly used by Iranian-backed Hezbollah and other militias in Syria.

Conflicting reports suggested several Iranian officers at the base were killed and injured, although the Times of Israel, citing Lebanese news service al-Mayadeen, reported no casualties.

Sky News, meanwhile, said the explosion was caused by an aerial strike launched by an unidentified jet, reporting that the weapons depot had been evacuated “for fear of an American attack.”

Kurdistan 24 was unable to independently verify the reports.

On Friday night, US President Donald Trump addressed the nation and announced that America had joined allies France and the United Kingdom in launching “precision strikes” against the Syrian regime after the April 7 chemical attack on eastern Ghouta that killed dozens of people.

He noted the military action was directed at “targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.”

The US President’s highly-anticipated announcement came at the end of a tense week as Washington, and its allies have been in contact, deciding on joint action against Assad.

Following the overnight attacks, Trump hailed the military action, describing it as “a perfectly executed strike,” expressing his gratitude to the UK and France “for their wisdom and the power of their fine military.”