A bustling market in northern Syria was the scene of a tragic car bombing that claimed the lives of at least seven individuals, with several others sustaining injuries in the town of Azaz, located in Aleppo province near the Turkish border.

The perpetrators behind the attack remain unidentified, although the town is under the control of pro-Turkish militias engaged in conflict against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Turkish forces and their allies hold significant sway over large swaths of territory along the shared border between Turkey and Syria.

The explosion occurred during a bustling shopping period, as residents were preparing for Eid al-Fitr, the celebratory conclusion of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

Tragically, among the casualties reported by the White Helmets were two children. Distressing footage of the aftermath depicted the grim scene of bodies strewn on the ground, buildings damaged, and a vehicle engulfed in flames.

No specific group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Notably, Azaz serves as the base for the Syrian Interim Government, an opposition faction asserting its legitimacy as the governing authority in the country.

Analysts highlight Azaz's strategic significance within the context of the ongoing civil war due to its proximity to the Turkish border and its importance as a crucial supply route.

The targeting of densely populated civilian areas like Azaz with explosives has sadly become a recurring occurrence in Syria's northwest border region.
In 2017, more than 40 people were killed when a car bomb was detonated outside the town's courthouse.

The Islamic State group - which captured the town in 2013 and briefly held it - said it had carried out the attack.

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