An explosion from ordnance left over from Syria's 13-year conflict went off in the coastal city of Latakia, causing a building to collapse and killing over a dozen people, according to the Syrian Civil Defense on Sunday.

The White Helmets, a paramedic group, reported that they spent the night searching through debris and recovered 16 bodies, including five women and five children. They also stated that 18 people were injured. According to the group and local residents, the explosion took place in a metal scrap storage area located on the ground floor of a four-story building. The Syrian Defence Ministry claimed late Sunday that the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group crossed the Lebanon-Syria border and killed three Syrian soldiers. However, Hezbollah denied any involvement in the incident, which occurred near northeastern Lebanon — the same area where clashes between Syrian forces and Lebanese clans took place last month.

Local Lebanese media have reported that Syrian forces shelled the northeastern Lebanese border town of Al-Qasr. In response, the Defence Ministry stated that it would take all necessary steps following this serious escalation by the Hezbollah militia. Approximately 100 people have been killed by exploding ordnance in the past 13 years, according to a February UN report. It also stated that since Bashar Assad was overthrown in December, more than 1,400 unexploded devices have been safely disposed of throughout Syria, and 138 minefields and contaminated areas have been identified in Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Deir-ez-Zor, and Latakia. 

Latakia, a key port city and coastal province in Syria, recently experienced a surge in violence when gunmen loyal to President Assad ambushed a security patrol. In response, the government launched a counter-offensive with support from allied groups, successfully quelling the insurgency. However, this operation caused extensive destruction and triggered several retaliatory attacks targeting members of the Alawite community, to which the Assad family belongs. The violent clashes and acts of revenge resulted in the loss of over 1,000 lives.