Drone Attack at Military College in Homs Leaves 80 Dead and 240 Injured
At least 80 people were killed and 240 others wounded in a deadly drone attack during a graduation ceremony at a military college in Homs, Syria. The Syrian health minister, Hassan al-Ghabash, confirmed the casualty numbers on Thursday.
The attack took place on Thursday as the graduation ceremony was coming to a close. Among the victims were civilians, including six children, as well as military personnel. Al-Ghabash expressed concerns that the death toll could rise further as many of the wounded were in serious condition.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Syrian military, however, has accused fighters “backed by known international forces” of carrying out the attack. The drones were reportedly laden with explosives.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the drone attack in Homs, as well as reports of retaliatory shelling in northwest Syria.
Interestingly, Syria’s defense minister had attended the graduation ceremony but left just minutes before the attack, according to Reuters. This has raised questions about potential security lapses.
Eyewitnesses described the horrifying aftermath of the attack, with dead bodies scattered across the courtyard. A Syrian man who had participated in setting up the decorations at the ceremony said, “We don’t know where it came from.”
Al Jazeera correspondent Zeina Khodr highlighted the significance of the attack, stating, “It has been years since the forces of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been targeted in such an operation in the heart of government-controlled territory.” She also noted that the Syrian regime quickly responded with airstrikes on opposition-controlled areas in the northwest of the country.
In addition to the drone attack in Homs, there were also reports of attacks on the northwestern province of Idlib. At least five people, including a woman and child, were killed, and 40 others were wounded. The attacks targeted 20 villages and towns, with the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, reporting that eight children and eight women were among the injured.
The attacks in Idlib were launched from government positions south and east of Jabal al-Zawiya, targeting a power station and a popular market.
The situation in Syria remains tense as investigations into these attacks continue. The international community is closely monitoring the developments and calling for an end to the violence.