In a devastating attack on a military academy in Syria, up to 100 deaths have been reported as weaponized drones struck the location shortly after a graduation ceremony attended by Syria’s defense minister, marking an unprecedented use of drones in a nation enduring a 12-year civil war.
This attack stands as one of the deadliest ever against a Syrian army installation. The victims of the attack, which occurred in the central province of Homs, included both civilians and military personnel, according to Syria’s defense ministry. The ministry attributed the attack to “terrorist” groups employing drones, although it did not specify a particular organization. No group has claimed immediate responsibility for the assault.
In the aftermath of the drone attack, Syrian government forces launched heavy bombing attacks on the opposition-held zone of Idlib throughout the day. Syria’s defense and foreign ministries pledged to respond “with full force.”
Remarkably, Syria’s defense minister had attended the graduation ceremony but left just minutes before the attack. The origins of the explosives remain unknown, leaving devastation in their wake, as recounted by witnesses at the academy.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 100 people were killed, with 125 others injured. An official in the alliance supporting Syria’s government estimated the death toll at around 100.
Health Minister Hassan Al-Ghobash provided a lower death count, stating that 80 people, including six women and six children, had been killed. He added that approximately 240 people were injured in the attack.
Syria’s conflict began in 2011 with protests against President Bashar al-Assad and has since escalated into an all-out war, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of displaced individuals. The Syrian army has been significantly affected by the conflict, relying heavily on military support from Russia, Iran, and fighters backed by Tehran from various countries.
While Assad has reclaimed most of the country, a portion in the north bordering Turkey remains under the control of armed opposition groups, including hardline jihadist fighters.
