It was one of the worst strikes on a Syrian army station in history, and it used weaponized drones...
Digital Desk: A war monitor and an official stated on Thursday that at least 100 people were murdered in an attack on a military academy in Syria, with weaponized drones striking the location minutes after Syria's defence minister left a graduation ceremony there.
It was one of the worst strikes on a Syrian army station in history, and it used weaponized drones for the first time in a country that has been at war for twelve years.
The strike on the military academy in the central province of Homs killed civilians and military personnel, according to Syria's defence ministry, which added that "terrorist" groups used drones to carry it out.
The statement did not name an outfit, and no group claimed credit for the attack right away.
In written declarations, Syria's defence and foreign ministries vowed to reply "with full force" to the attack. Throughout the day, Syrian government forces have carried out extensive bombing assaults on the opposition-held region of Idlib.
According to a Syrian security insider and a security source in the regional alliance helping the Damascus government against opposition groups, Syria's defence minister attended the graduation ceremony but left minutes before the strike.
Footage provided by Reuters via the messaging app WhatsApp showed people lying in pools of blood in a vast courtyard, some in fatigues and others in civilian clothes.
Some of the victims were still smoking, while others were on fire. Someone could be heard saying "Put him out!" among the screams. In the background, there was a spray of gunshots.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 100 people were murdered and 125 were injured. According to a source in the alliance backing Syria's government, the death toll is over 100.
Syria's conflict began with protests against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 but quickly escalated into an all-out war that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
Assad reclaimed most of the nation, but armed opposition groups, including extreme jihadist rebels, still control a swath in the north bordering Turkey.
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