WarSclerotic

According to the report, the fatalities include Syrian soldiers and Shiite militiamen.

Syrian media labeled the explosion an “accident.” Quoting a military source, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said the explosions took place at an ammunition depot while troops were removing faulty munitions.

The official said it is believed the munitions overheated due to extreme temperatures and exploded.

The base is known as a port for weapon deliveries headed to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Intelligence website Intelli Times claimed that the explosion took place while the troops were handling a new weapons shipment that arrived from Iran.

The Shayrat Airbase was previously attacked by the US in April of 2017 after Washington accused the Syrian government of carrying out a chemical weapons attack on the Idlib Governorate town of Khan Sheikhoun.