Video: Massive Fireball Rocks Homs

A huge fireball rises above the jagged, shelled-out skyline of Homs. The explosion looks almost too large to be real — and when it began circulating across social media this morning, it drew skepticism — but now, multiple videos are emerging and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has confirmed the blast. According to Al ...

A huge fireball rises above the jagged, shelled-out skyline of Homs. The explosion looks almost too large to be real — and when it began circulating across social media this morning, it drew skepticism — but now, multiple videos are emerging and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has confirmed the blast.

According to Al Jazeera, Syrian rebels were shelling a military weapons depot in the government-controlled Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood and set off a stockpile of stored munitions. The huge fireball can be seen from multiple angles above and in these next two videos (the first from Al Jazeera). The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is reporting that the attack killed 40, both soldiers and civilians, and wounded an additional 16 people.

The initial blast was followed by a series of secondary explosions. It is still unclear what kind of munitions detonated in the attack, and even the scale the explosions is difficult to determine because of the way the fireball dwarfs the surrounding buildings.

J. Dana Stuster is a policy analyst at the National Security Network. Twitter: @jdanastuster

More from Foreign Policy

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.

Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War

Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.