In a devastating attack on Thursday, scores of people were killed in a drone strike on a graduation ceremony at the Homs Military Academy in Syria. This attack is being deemed one of the bloodiest strikes against the military in over 12 years of civil war. Multiple weaponized drones targeted the academy's courtyard where families were gathered with the new officers. The attack occurred just minutes after defense minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas had left the scene. As a result, Syria has declared three days of mourning. Syria's defense and foreign ministries have blamed terrorist groups for the attack, without specifying further.

In Syria, terrorists attempted to carry out a kamikaze drone strike on a military hospital in Homs, where the victims of the previous attack on a military college were brought.

Reportedly, the Syrian Air Defense Forces successfully intercepted and destroyed six drones launched… pic.twitter.com/Tulp40MPUa

— 301 Military (@301military) October 6, 2023

Both ministries have vowed to respond "with full force." Coffins draped in the Syrian flag were mournfully sent out from the Homs Military Hospital, accompanied by a military band and troops saluting in respect. Syria's health ministry has reported that 89 people were killed in the attack, including 31 women and five children. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has put the toll above 120. Following the drone attack, Syrian government troops launched artillery shell attacks into rebel-held territory in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo throughout the night and early morning.

This bombardment has resulted in the death of at least 12 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory. In response to the escalating violence, authorities have canceled group Friday prayers to prevent potential attacks on mosques. This drone strike is an unprecedented use of drones against government forces in the ongoing civil war in Syria. The war began with protests against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 and has since escalated into a conflict that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.

While drones have been used by hardline rebels since 2018, this particular attack involving a swarm of drones represents the deadliest and most coordinated use of the weapon against the government side. President Assad has heavily relied on military support from Russia, Iran, and Tehran-backed militias throughout the war, after the Syrian army experienced numerous defections early on.

In efforts to bolster the Syrian military, Russia has been actively involved in helping Assad combat rebel forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Assad, condemning the attack as "savage." The Homs Military Academy holds great significance in Syria, as it is one of the oldest military academies in the country. All ground forces officers graduate from this institution, making the fresh graduates an essential supply of junior officers. However, the war has left a severe shortage of junior officers after more than a decade of brutality. This drone attack has further highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Syria and its armed forces in the midst of a prolonged and devastating conflict.