Homs, Syria – A devastating drone strike unfolded during a military academy graduation ceremony in Homs, Syria, sending shockwaves through the nation. The attack, attributed to “terrorist organizations,” unleashed chaos, resulting in numerous casualties. This incident, one of the deadliest single attacks on the Syrian army since the onset of the nation’s protracted conflict in 2011, transpired immediately following the graduation ceremony attended by military officers and their families, indiscriminately affecting both military personnel and civilians alike.
Official reports, as of Friday, confirmed the grim toll: 89 lives lost, including 31 women and five children, with an additional 277 individuals sustaining injuries. Grief-stricken relatives of the victims gathered outside Homs military hospital, their anguish palpable.
Among them, a mourning mother, her black attire adorned with white flowers, wept inconsolably for her departed son. Her lamentations echoed, “Do not go, my beloved; this slumber does not befit you.” Discrepancies in casualty figures emerged, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, headquartered in Britain, reporting a more harrowing count of 123 fatalities, encompassing 54 civilians, including 39 women and children, along with a substantial tally of 150 wounded.
In a poignant gesture rarely witnessed since the war’s commencement, the Syrian government declared a three-day mourning period commencing on Friday, marked by national flags flying at half-mast. In a solemn display, Defence Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas presided over the initial funerals, paying respects to approximately 30 deceased individuals, encompassing both military personnel and civilians.
Military honorees saluted as caskets, draped in the Syrian national flag, were methodically transported for burial, one by one.
Amid the chaos captured in circulating social media videos during the attack, civilians lay on the ground in desperation, others beseeching assistance. “Martyrdom, dignity, and national pride come at a great cost,” Defence Minister Abbas remarked, seeking solace for the grieving families. He acknowledged the profound loss of those who perished, underscoring that the nation’s welfare remains paramount.
Notably, Defence Minister Abbas had been present at the graduation ceremony but departed mere minutes before the attack, according to eyewitness accounts and the Syrian Observatory’s findings.
Within the military hospital’s somber confines, Khawlah, aged 33, fervently sought her brother among the coffins. Her anguish found expression in her words: “Amjad did not die; I died.”
To date, no group has claimed responsibility for this calamitous assault. Nevertheless, the Syrian army has attributed it to “armed terrorist organizations” employing explosive-laden drones and has vowed a resolute response.
In the wake of this tragedy, the Syrian military initiated a bombing campaign targeting opposition-held territories in the country’s northwest, indicative of a retaliatory measure. The Syrian Observatory has reported 15 civilian casualties and highlighted Russian warplanes conducting a minimum of five airstrikes in the Idlib region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in condemnation of the academy attack, extended his condolences to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Putin affirmed Russia’s commitment to continue collaborating with Syrian partners in the battle against terrorism.
Homs province, formerly a stronghold of opposition forces, reverted to government control in 2018. Presently, areas in close proximity to Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia, as well as swathes of Idlib province, remain under the influence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Al-Qaeda’s former Syria branch.
Both Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Islamic State have employed drones in their attacks on government-held regions and Syrian-Russian military installations, a tactic observed in recent months, as corroborated by the Syrian Observatory.
Antonio Guterres, the United Nations chief, expressed deep concern over the drone attack and subsequent reports of retaliatory shelling. In parallel developments, Turkey conducted airstrikes in northeastern Syria, targeting at least 21 sites, including civilian infrastructure, resulting in casualties. Meanwhile, the Pentagon revealed that U.S. F-16 warplanes intercepted and neutralized a Turkish drone, citing it as a potential threat when it ventured within close proximity to U.S. forces in the vicinity of Hasakeh.
The protracted Syrian conflict, which erupted in 2011, has exacted a staggering toll, claiming over half a million lives and embroiling foreign militaries and militias in its relentless turmoil.