At least 35 killed, 30 injured after two buses — one carrying Internal Security Forces — collide on Syrian highway linking Damascus to Deir Az Zor

At least 35 people were killed and 30 injured in a tragic bus collision on the Deir Az Zor–Damascus highway, a vital route in Syria, on Saturday. The crash occurred between al-Sukhnah and Palmyra, involving a bus carrying Internal Security Forces and another with civilians.¹²³⁴

The Ministry of Interior confirmed that ambulances were dispatched to the scene, and Syrian military helicopters were deployed to evacuate the injured to Homs Military Hospital. The cause of the collision remains unknown.⁶⁷⁸

This highway, stretching over 400 km (249 miles), is notorious for its poor safety standards, a reflection of Syria's deteriorating infrastructure after nearly 14 years of civil war. In a recent statement, Minister of Disaster Management and Emergency Response Raed al-Saleh noted that over 2,000 road traffic accidents occurred in the first nine months of the year, making such incidents a leading cause of death in the country.⁹¹⁰

The crash highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Syria's transportation system, as the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of conflict and the urgent need for infrastructure improvements.