Mysterious explosions in Syria raise questions about their backgrounds

Since late December, Syria has witnessed a series of recurring security incidents, including explosions and low-altitude flights by unidentified military aircraft over several areas. These developments have taken place amid conflicting official statements and a notable absence of clear information from the transitional government, raising questions about the nature and background of these events.

30 December 2025 – Reports of clashes inside the People’s Palace

Local media outlets and unofficial sources circulated information about clashes and gunfire erupting inside the People’s Palace in Damascus, following the sound of explosions that continued for a period of time.

Despite the official media blackout, Western media quoted a diplomatic source yesterday, described as one of the main supporters of the transitional government, who stated that gunfire had occurred inside the presidential palace at night, without providing further details.

For his part, Rami Abdulrahman, Director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), confirmed that gunfire broke out at around 7:00 p.m. and lasted approximately 12 minutes, with reports of injuries. He attributed the incident to internal disputes among individuals present in the palace, rather than to a direct targeting of the head of the transitional government.

31 December 2025 – Explosions in Latakia

Correspondents reported hearing powerful explosions in the city of Latakia. According to a transitional government official speaking to media outlets close to it, the sounds were the result of “the firing of explosive ammunition into the air,” without providing additional details.

2 January 2026 – Military aircraft over the coast

ANHA correspondents in Latakia and Tartus reported at midday that unidentified military aircraft were flying at low altitude over the two cities, without any official clarification regarding the identity or mission of the aircraft.

3 January 2026 – Shelling and explosions in Damascus

Explosions were heard in the capital, Damascus. According to ANHA correspondents, it later emerged that rockets and shells had landed on military sites. In contrast, the transitional government stated that residential neighborhoods had been targeted.

The SOHR indicated that shells fell at three locations: the vicinity of the Republican Palace near the “battalion” overlooking the Mazzeh 86 neighborhood, behind Al-Mohammadi Mosque in Mazzeh Villas, and around Mazzeh Military Airport.

Media outlets affiliated with the transitional government also reported damage to the dome of Al-Mohammadi Mosque and the telecommunications building in the same area, without announcing a final assessment of the damage.

4 January 2026 – Aerial activity and simultaneous explosions

The skies over Tartus, its countryside, and the Syrian coast witnessed flights by unidentified military aircraft.

On the same day, Israeli aircraft were observed flying along the Syrian border and conducting aerial maneuvers, before entering the airspace over Damascus and its countryside and later withdrawing.

In the evening, explosions were heard around Damascus. A military official told media outlets close to the transitional government that the sounds were the result of “military exercises,” without disclosing their location or nature.

Two large explosions of unknown origin were also heard around Latakia and were similarly described by government officials to affiliated media as “military exercises.”

5 January 2026 – Explosions near Damascus and Israeli overflights

Explosions were once again heard around Damascus. Sources within the transitional government forces stated that they resulted from “live-ammunition exercises in the Wadi Barada area,” coinciding with Israeli aircraft flying over Damascus.

Throughout the week, amid all these developments, the official media remained silent, and no clarification was issued by the transitional government’s official news agency regarding the nature or causes of these incidents.

Deleted official statement deepens the mystery

Amid these developments, the Ministry of Interior of the transitional government issued a statement yesterday denying reports of an attack on the head of the transitional government at the palace and denying that any explosions had occurred, before later deleting the statement from its official website. This move further fueled doubts about what had actually taken place. This was followed by the circulation of short video clips showing Ahmed al-Sharaa shopping at a grocery store last night using the new Syrian currency, said to be “new and from Damascus.”

Tense political context

These events come amid circulating information about internal disputes among the forces and factions that make up the transitional government, which are said to have escalated since the government announced its joining of the international coalition to combat ISIS mercenaries on 23 November. This announcement sparked widespread controversy within political and military circles.

A-H 

ANHA