A powerful car bomb explosion in Damascus, Syria, has left 23 people wounded and one soldier killed.

Axar.az reports, citing SANA, the blast occurred near a Ministry of Defense building in the Bab Sharqi area of Damascus.

Syria’s Defense Ministry media directorate said a soldier was killed in the incident, while several others were injured.

The Health Ministry’s emergency services director stated that 23 people were wounded and transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment.

It is noted that a Syrian Arab Army unit had previously discovered an improvised explosive device (IED) near the site and attempted to dismantle it before the explosion occurred.