Early on July 24, a large explosion destroyed an ammo depot in the Turkish-occupied part of the northern Aleppo countryside.
The ammo depot, which was located in the town of Shamarin on the Turkish border, belonged to the al-Shamiya Front. The Turkish-backed group is a member of the so-called Syrian National Army (SNA).
According to local sources, loads of locally-made mortars and rockets were stored in the depot. The facility was also used as a workshop for the manufacture of improvised explosives .
The explosion of the ammunition reached a nearby refugee camp. As a result, three children and a woman were killed. At least ten other people, including eight children, were injured.
Activists blamed the al-Shamiya Front for the civilian casualties. The group and the SNA have not yet commented on the incident.
The cause of the explosion remains unknown. Some sources claimed that a combat drone struck the depot. However, there is no evidence to back this. These claims are probably intended to dilute responsibility of Turkish-backed militants.
