A devastating drone attack rocked a military academy in Syria’s Homs province, claiming the lives of more than 100 individuals while a cadet graduation ceremony was in progress. State media reported this horrifying incident that unfolded in the city of Homs.

The attack targeted a graduation ceremony attended by cadets’ families, tragically leading to the loss of innocent lives, including women and children.

The Syrian army swiftly pointed fingers at “terrorist groups backed by known international forces” as the perpetrators behind this heinous act.

As of now, no specific group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack. The explosive-laden drones are believed to have been launched from opposition-controlled areas situated northwest of Homs.

Shortly after the incident, first responders from the White Helmets reported additional casualties as a result of intense government artillery and missile strikes on several cities, towns, and villages within the opposition stronghold of Idlib province. This escalation further underscores the ongoing violence in the region.

Syria’s state news agency, Sana, cited a statement from the General Command of the Armed Forces, condemning the attack as an “unprecedented criminal one” and vowing to respond with full force against the responsible terrorist groups.

Health Minister Hassan al-Gabbash provided grim statistics, stating that the attack had left more than 200 people injured, including six women and six children among the deceased.

An eyewitness who had assisted in setting up decorations at the ceremony venue recounted the horrifying experience, saying, “After the ceremony, people went down to the courtyard and the explosives hit. We don’t know where it came from, and corpses littered the ground.”

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syria’s Defense Minister had attended the graduation ceremony but left just minutes before the attack.

UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed his horror at the attack and called on all parties involved in the prolonged conflict to “exercise the utmost restraint.”

He emphasized the importance of respecting international law and safeguarding the well-being of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Pedersen also highlighted the unsustainable nature of the current situation in Syria, emphasizing the urgent need for a meaningful political solution to prevent further deterioration, especially in terms of security.

The civil war in Syria, which erupted in 2011 after a violent crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations by President Bashar al-Assad, has already claimed the lives of more than half a million people.

The conflict has left 6.8 million people internally displaced, with an additional 6 million becoming refugees or asylum-seekers abroad.