On Wednesday evening, two unidentified men on a motorcycle threw a bomb at a shop near the Al-Midan Gate area in the capital Damascus, before fleeing towards the surrounding alleys.
Sources at the scene told "Syrian News" thatthe explosion caused material damage at the site, without any information about human injuries.
It added that the security forces imposed a security cordon around the target place to collect forensic evidence, in conjunction with conducting search and combing patrols in the nearby streets, and traffic gradually returned to normal in the area of the Al-Midan Gate after removing the scattered glass and addressing the material damage left by the explosion.
So far, no further detailed statement has been issued by the Ministry of Interior through its official identifiers clarifying the identity of the perpetrators or their motives, while intensive investigations and the collection of recordings of surveillance cameras deployed in the vicinity of the site to track the path of the motorcycle continue.
Unarmed weapons are a threat to civil peace
This incident comes in light of the continued incidents of the use of hand grenades and unlicensed weapons in a number of Syrian regions, where the file of uncontrolled weapons has become one of the most serious security and social existential challenges and a time bomb that threatens the lives of civilians on a daily basis, away from the traditional battle lines.
Syria has repeatedly stressed its keenness to control uncontrolled weapons, the most recent of which was by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Cheibani when he stressed during the reception of the Algerian embassy in Damascus on the occasion of Africa Day, Sunday, June 7th, that limiting weapons to the legitimate state institutions is the main pillar to protect citizens, stabilize security and prevent manifestations of lawlessness, considering that limiting weapons to the legitimate state institutions is the main pillar to protect citizens, stabilize security and prevent manifestations of lawlessness. Ending the arms chaos strengthens the authority of the judiciary and contributes to the creation of a stable and legitimate environment that supports reconstruction efforts and the return of normal life to the country.
268 victims of uncontrolled weapons in 3 months
An official statistic obtained by "Syrian News" revealed more than 268 victims between dead and wounded in just 3 months of 2026 as a result of the indiscriminate use of fire, quarrels, and settling accounts.
Daily incidents are concentrated in clan and family conflicts, in addition to the misuse of projectiles and stored bombs, and heavy shooting at events and weddings, including stray bullets, which have become one of the leading causes of injuries.
Families and communities in the countryside, the desert and southern Syria have resorted to preventive armament as a self-protection mechanism for fear of reprisals or aggression, which complicates the task of the security services in withdrawing and seizing weapons, as Syria asserts that limiting weapons to the state is the main guarantee for the enforcement of the rule of law and the protection of citizens.
Punishment for Possession of Unlicensed Weapons in Syria
Syrian laws set severe penalties against holders of unlicensed weapons, up to 10 years in prison and fines of millions of pounds, based on Law No. 14 of 2022 amending Legislative Decree No. 51 of 2001 on Weapons and Ammunition.
Possession of weapons of war – such as automatic rifles, machine guns, grenades and explosives – is treated as an aggravated crime, punishable by temporary detention for 7 to 10 years, in addition to a fine of between 2 and 3 million Syrian pounds, while possession of only military ammunition is an independent crime punishable by 2 to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to 2 million Syrian pounds.
With regard to the possession of military pistols without a license, which is one of the weapons that can be licensed under specific conditions, its penalty ranges from 3 to 6 years of imprisonment, in addition to a fine ranging from 500,000 to one million Syrian pounds. Holders of hunting rifles without a license are also subject to a prison sentence of one to two years and a fine of up to 500,000 Syrian pounds, while the holder of exercise weapons outside licensed shooting clubs is punished by imprisonment from 6 months to one year, and a fine of up to 100,000 Lira.