Syria: Dozens killed in drone strike on Homs military college

A drone attack on a military college in Syria's Homs province caused a large number of casualties, Syrian state TV reported on Thursday. 

The Syrian regime's Al-Ikhbariya channel said: "A drone attack targeted the graduation ceremony for an officers' course at the Military College in Homs, resulting in large numbers of deaths and injuries."

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, as cited by AFP, at least 60 people were killed - including military personnel and at least nine civilians - with dozens more wounded. The death toll is likely to increase.

Breaking. An explosion struck the Homs Military College amidst visit of the defense minister in the city. Casualties reported. Update to come. Syria

— QalaatM (@QalaatM) October 5, 2023

Local sources reported that explosions were heard in several neighbourhoods of the western city of Homs, with drones targeting the city's Military College building. 

Meanwhile, the Russian agency Sputnik, citing local medical sources said that ambulances had arrived and began transporting the injured to Homs Military Hospital.

Regime-affiliated television described the attack as "terrorist-related" on the Telegram messaging app. However, no group has yet claimed the attack.

Israel has carried out strikes in Homs and other areas, while the Syrian regime is also engaged in fighting with a small pocket of Islamic State group fighters in a remote corner of the province. 

Syrian rebels and the extremist group Hayaat Tahrir Al-Sham have also hit regime security targets across Syria, including military and police bases.

Parts of Homs city and the province were held by rebels until brutal regime assaults forced them to surrender.

(Reuters and The New Arab)