The blast occurred in the Bab Sharqi district of the Syrian capital while army personnel were dismantling another explosive device discovered near the same location, the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, “a car bomb exploded in the same area, resulting in the martyrdom of one soldier and injuries to others.”

A source from Syria’s civil defense services said at least one person had been killed in the explosion, though casualty figures had not been independently confirmed.

An AFP correspondent at the scene reported hearing a powerful explosion before witnessing a vehicle engulfed in flames near the defense-related building. Security forces quickly sealed off the surrounding area and deployed heavily across the neighborhood.

Authorities have not publicly identified those responsible for the attack, and no group immediately claimed responsibility.

The incident underscores ongoing security challenges in Syria despite a relative reduction in large-scale fighting following years of civil war and political instability.

Damascus has periodically experienced bombings, targeted attacks and security operations involving militant cells, particularly around government and military facilities.

The authorities said that since a ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10 last year, 830 Palestinians have been killed and 2,345 injured, indicating continued casualties despite the truce.

Officials added that many victims are believed to remain buried under rubble, suggesting the overall death toll could rise further as recovery efforts continue.

The figures, provided by health authorities in Gaza, could not be independently verified.

The talks, involving a group described as Trump’s “Board of Peace,” focused on whether DP World could partner in overseeing logistics for humanitarian aid and commercial goods entering the Gaza Strip, according to the report.

Details of the proposed arrangement, including governance structures or timelines, were not disclosed. Reuters could not independently verify the discussions.

Any such initiative would come amid ongoing international efforts to plan for reconstruction and aid delivery in Gaza, where infrastructure has been severely damaged by conflict.

Aoun struck a defiant tone, condemning Hezbollah’s rocket attacks into northern Israel that triggered the latest conflict, while also criticizing Iran for backing and arming the group. He described both as violations of Lebanese sovereignty and reiterated his commitment to disarm non-state actors operating within the country.

“There will be no concessions to any principle, no infringement of the sovereignty of this country,” Aoun said, adding that Lebanon would base its decisions on national consensus rather than external influence.

The president also responded directly to Hezbollah’s criticism of Beirut’s decision to engage in direct talks with Israel, rejecting claims that Lebanon lacked leverage and asserting the government’s authority to pursue its own diplomatic path.

At the same time, Aoun called on Israel to halt attacks, withdraw its forces, release detainees and facilitate the return of displaced civilians. The 10-day ceasefire, brokered by the United States, has largely held after more than a month of hostilities, though Hezbollah is not formally part of the agreement.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah was not yet complete, while the group indicated its response would depend on developments on the ground, underscoring the fragility of the truce.

The conflict displaced more than one million people across Lebanon, with thousands of families now beginning to return to their homes as conditions stabilize. Roads leading to southern regions have been congested with vehicles carrying belongings salvaged during the fighting.

Aoun framed the moment as a turning point for Lebanon, emphasizing the need to rebuild and avoid further escalation after a conflict that has strained the country’s political and social fabric.

The incident occurred during routine water delivery at the Mansoura water filling point, a key facility supplying Gaza City, UNICEF said in a statement, adding that two other individuals were injured in the attack.The agency said it was “outraged” by the killings and stressed that humanitarian personnel, civilians and essential infrastructure must be protected under international humanitarian law.

It urged Israeli authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.Israel’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.The development comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that has been in place since October, ending two years of full-scale conflict.

Despite the truce, Israeli forces remain deployed across a large depopulated zone covering more than half of the Gaza Strip, while Hamas continues to control the remaining coastal territory.Violence has persisted since the ceasefire, with local medics reporting more than 750 Palestinian deaths, while militants have killed four Israeli soldiers.

Both sides have accused each other of violating the terms of the truce.UNICEF said the suspension of activities at the water site could further affect access to clean water for civilians in Gaza, where humanitarian conditions remain severe.

The negotiation are aimed at ending a six-week conflict between the United States and Iran that has killed thousands across the Middle East and disrupted global energy supplies, contributing to rising inflation and slower economic growth.

The arrival of the U.S. delegation marks a key step in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict, with Washington and Tehran expected to begin negotiations shortly in the Pakistani capital.

Pakistan has implemented heightened security measures in Islamabad as it hosts the talks, which are seen as a critical opportunity to stabilize the region and address broader economic fallout linked to the war.