40 killed in ammunition depot blast in Syria’s city of Homs

At least 40 people have been killed and 120 others wounded in explosions at an ammunition depot in Syria’s western city of Homs, a Syrian opposition group says.

The successive explosions took place on Thursday after foreign-backed militants targeted the district of Wadi al-Dhahab with rockets.

The death toll is likely to rise as many of the injured are reportedly in critical condition.

The blasts sent a massive ball of fire into the sky and caused panic among residents.

The explosions happened on the same day Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited the town of Daraya near the capital, Damascus, to inspect army soldiers on the occasion of the country’s Army Day.

In his Army Day message to Syrian troops, Assad said that he was “sure of victory” over the militants fighting against his government.

The Syrian troops have recently made significant gains in battles against Takfiri militants in key areas across the country.

The army soldiers have already gained control of the strategic Khaldiyeh District in Homs, and they are continuing their operations to push deeper into the city.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. Many of the militants operating inside Syria are reportedly foreign nationals.

According to the reports, the West and its regional allies – especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey – are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.