At least 30 Syrian soldiers were killed by the explosion of a powerful bomb in a long tunnel that scores of rebels spent weeks digging under a checkpoint, a monitor said Tuesday.
“Around 30 regime forces were killed… in a blast (Monday) in which several tons of explosives were planted in a tunnel beneath a checkpoint on the northeastern outskirts of the town of Maaret al-Numan,”the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
A video posted online by Syria’s biggest rebel alliance, the Islamic Front, showed an enormous explosion ripping open the ground and throwing huge quanties of earth and debris dozens of metres (yards) into the air.
A rebel in Idlib province told AFP via the Internet that 60 rebels had spent 50 days digging the tunnel.
“After the explosion, the fighters raided the checkpoint, which was composed of three buildings,” said the rebel, who identified himself as Abu Leila.
Opposition fighters have regularly made use of tunnels to facilitate their movement and to attack government facilities, setting off explosive charges under checkpoints and headquarters.
Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Britain-based Observatory, said the checkpoint was one of the lines of defence for the Wadi Deif military base, one of the last regime strongholds in Idlib.
Rebels have been trying for more than a year to capture Wadi Deif and the nearby Hamadiyeh military base, but the regime has thus far repulsed their attacks.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription