In a tragic incident, over 100 people lost their lives in a lethal drone attack on a Syrian military college, leading to widespread devastation and grief. The attack occurred on Thursday in the government-held city of Homs, Syria. State media immediately attributed the drone strike to “terrorist organizations.”
According to an official statement from the Syrian army carried by the state news agency SANA, the attack targeted the “graduation ceremony for officers of the military academy” in Homs. The government referred to the perpetrators as “armed terrorist organizations.” However, there was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitor, reported a death toll of “112, including 21 civilians, 11 of whom were women and girls,” with at least 120 people wounded. In contrast, Health Minister Hassan al-Ghobash stated on Syrian television that the “preliminary” death toll was 80, including six women and six children, and around 240 wounded.
The attack was carried out using “explosive-laden drones,” as confirmed by the military statement, which vowed to “respond with full force.” The government declared three days of mourning starting Friday.
In retaliation for the drone attack, residents in the rebel-held Idlib region reported heavy bombardment by government forces, resulting in eight deaths and 30 injuries. The Idlib region is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist group formerly associated with Al-Qaeda, which has previously used drones to target government-held areas.
UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, issued a statement in response to the tragedy, stating, “Today’s horrific scenes are a reminder of the need to immediately de-escalate violence, towards a nationwide ceasefire and a cooperative approach to countering Security Council-listed terrorist groups.”
In a separate development, Turkey carried out airstrikes in the northeast of the country, which is controlled by Kurdish forces. Ankara had previously vowed to retaliate for a bomb assault. These airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 11 people.
Turkey’s Defense Ministry reported that their forces had destroyed 30 targets, including “shelters, depots, and storage sites” in northern Syria. The Kurdish internal security forces stated that Turkey had carried out 21 strikes in the area, killing “11 people, including five civilians and six security personnel.”
The Pentagon confirmed that US F-16 warplanes had shot down a Turkish drone, considering it “a potential threat” as it approached “less than a half kilometer from US forces” near Hasakeh.
The ongoing conflict in Syria continues to cause immense suffering, with various parties involved in a complex and protracted struggle. The situation remains volatile, and international efforts to establish peace and stability in the region face significant challenges.
