Deadly Drone Attack Targets Military Graduation Ceremony in Homs, Syria

A drone attack struck a crowded graduation ceremony for military officers in the Syrian city of Homs, resulting in numerous casualties, including civilians and military personnel. The incident occurred without any immediate claim of responsibility, and the exact number of casualties remained unclear, with conflicting reports. The Syrian military accused insurgents, whom they claimed were backed by known international forces, of carrying out the attack.

Reports indicated that at least 60 officers and civilians were killed, with approximately 120 wounded in the drone strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Meanwhile, a pro-government radio station reported 66 deaths and around 190 injuries. The Syrian government declared a three-day state of mourning in response to the attack.

Following the drone strike in homs, the Syrian government shelled villages in Idlib province, a rebel-held area in northwestern Syria. There were no immediate reports of casualties in that region. In a separate incident earlier on the same day, the Syrian army shelled a village in western Aleppo province, resulting in the deaths of at least five civilians.

In northeastern Syria, Turkish drone attacks targeted oil production facilities, electrical substations, and a dam in Hassakeh and Qamishli provinces, according to local Kurdish authorities. These attacks resulted in the deaths of six members of their security forces and two civilians. Turkey has long accused the main Syrian Kurdish militia of being allied with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been in conflict with Turkey since 1984.

Northwestern Syria, where the drone attack in homs occurred, is primarily held by al-Qaida-linked fighters and Turkish-backed opposition forces. The majority of the population in this area lives in poverty and relies on humanitarian aid for survival, with many being internally displaced Syrians.