- July 25, 2026
At Least 35 Killed As Two Buses Collide In Syria, Rescue Operation Underway
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A bus collision in central Syria led to the deaths 35 people and injuries to several. Helicopters have been dispatched to the site to evacuate the injured.
Bus accident in central Syria has claimed the lives of at least 35 people and caused injuries to several more. (Image source: Reuters)
In a collision of two passenger buses in central Syria, at least 35 people were killed and several others injured. The incident happened on a highway between Palmyra and Al-Sukhnah cities.
The highway was Damascus-Dier ez-Zor, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The Qatar based media platform also noted that the highway on which this accident occurred is a crucial 400km long one that connects the east of the country with the capital. Evacuation procedures are underway.
The report cited SANA (Syrian Arab News Agency), the country’s state-run media, to state that helicopters have been sent to the crash site to evacuate the injured and take them to the Homs Military Hospital. The route, where the accident happened, remains heavily used despite ongoing security and infrastructure challenges.
The Ministry of Interior of Syria said, according to the report, that one of the buses was carrying members of the security forces while the other was carrying civilians. The Minister of Disaster Management and Emergency Response Raed Al-Saleh said that his country has said that nearly 2,000 accidents have happened there since January this year.
The stretch between Palmyra and Al-Sukhnah has reportedly seen repeated disruptions over the years due to conflict, damaged roads and sporadic militant activity. While large parts of central Syria are now under government control, the region still faces instability.
Syria’s decade-long civil war has left much of the country’s transport infrastructure in poor condition. Highways connecting major cities have suffered from years of neglect, airstrikes and lack of maintenance, making travel risky even in the absence of active fighting.
The Damascus–Deir ez-Zor highway, in particular, remains a strategic lifeline. It connects resource-rich eastern provinces to the political and administrative centre in Damascus. The province of Deir ez-Zor is also important because it is this area where the earliest monasteries of the Syriac Christians were established.
These monasteries were established here as far back in time as when Christians were being persecuted in the Roman Empire. The route is frequently used by civilians, traders and security forces, despite concerns over safety and long travel times.
Accidents on this corridor are not uncommon, often attributed to damaged road surfaces and inadequate traffic regulation. Emergency services are stretched thin, and response times can be slow due to distance and security checks along the route.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims. An investigation into the cause of the collision is expected, though early indications point to possible speeding or driver fatigue.
Damascus, Syria
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