Media reported a fire at a major international stadium in Syria

A large fire broke out at the international stadium in Aleppo in Syria. This was reported by Al Watan newspaper on December 19, citing local sources.

Footage from social media shows the fire spreading through the stadium, which is considered the largest in the country and can accommodate up to 75,000 spectators.

"Presumably, the fire was started by unknown people," Al Watan specified in its Telegram channel.

According to media reports, the Syrian Civil Defense managed to extinguish the fire.

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Earlier, on December 8, the AFP news agency reported about a fire in the presidential palace of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. It was specified that the palace was burning reception hall. CNN noted that earlier in the palace were seen Syrians, "including armed men and even small children." According to the publication, they took out of the building chairs and other pieces of furniture.

Before that, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, after negotiations with the opposition, left the post of head of state and left the country, instructing to carry out the transfer of power peacefully. Syria's national coalition of revolutionary and opposition forces said it was working to form a transitional authority. The country is expected to hold a referendum.

The situation in Syria escalated as a result of a major attack by armed groups in Aleppo and Idlib, which began on November 28 and led to the Syrian army's retaliation against the militants.