Attack on Syrian military academy
Idlib ceasefire (March 2020 – Nov. 2024)
Foreign intervention on behalf of Syrian Arab Republic Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels U.S.-led intervention against ISIL
On 5 October 2023, aSyrian military graduation ceremony at theHoms Military Academy was targeted by adrone strike , killing at least 112+ people and injuring 277+ others.[ 2] [ 1] The attack followedincreased clashes in the 'De-escalation Zone' located in northwestern Syria. The perpetrator of the attack is currently unknown.[ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
The incident occurred just after the afternoon graduation ceremony had ended. TheSyrian Ministry of Defense andMinistry of Health reported 89 casualties including mostlygraduate soldiers in addition to 31 women and 5 children.[ 2] [ 1] [ 8] [ 9] [ a] The drones were believed to have originated in rebel-held territories north-west ofHoms .[ 11]
Syrian Defense MinisterAli Mahmoud Abbas was in attendance at the graduation ceremony but left before the attack.[ 12] He later visited the Abdul-Qader Shaqfa Military Hospital where several of the casualties were brought.[ 13]
The Syrian Defence Ministry vowed to respond to the attacks “with full force”.[ 14] Retaliation was set in motion on the same day, in which the Syrian military carried out rocket and artillery strikes on theopposition-controlled zone ofIdlib Governorate , killing at least 24 civilians and injuring 37 others.[ 15] [ 16] It also shelled rebel-held areas of Idlib andAleppo Governorates .[ 17] [ 18] Meanwhile,Russian airstrikes hit regions in northwesternHama Governorate .[ 19]
The areas targeted were controlled by different factions includingAnsar al-Tawhid ,Hurras al-Din ,Tahrir al-Sham andTurkistan Islamic Party .[ 20]
TheSyrian government announced threedays of mourning starting on 6 October.[ 2] TheSyrian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on the academy as a "cowardly terrorist attack" perpetrated by U.S.-backed "terrorist groups" to destabilize the situation in Syria.[ 21]
TheArab League ,[ 22] released a statement condemning the attack.Argentina ,[ 23] Algeria ,[ 24] Armenia ,[ 25] Belarus ,[ 26] Brazil ,[ 27] Egypt ,[ 28] India ,Iran ,[ 29] Iraq ,[ 30] Jordan ,[ 31] Lebanon ,[ 32] North Korea ,[ 33] Oman ,[ 34] Palestine ,[ 35] Romania ,[ 36] Russia ,[ 37] Sudan ,[ 38] theUnited Arab Emirates [ 39] andVenezuela [ 40] expressed their condolences to the Syrian government, according to the state news agencySANA .[ 41]
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was "deeply concerned" about developments in Syria, according to his spokesmanStéphane Dujarric .[ 42] Geir Pedersen , theUnited Nations ' special envoy to Syria, called the attack "horrific" and called on all parties to the conflict to "exercise the utmost restraint".[ 11] The Speaker of theLebanese Parliament ,Nabih Berri , also offered his condolences to PresidentBashar al-Assad .[ 43]
^ According toSOHR , the drone strike resulted in the deaths of 123 people, including 54 civilians, among whom were 39 women and children.[ 10] ^a b c d "Funeral ceremony of martyrs of the terrorist attack on Military academy begins with popular and official attendance" . SANA. 6 October 2023. Retrieved6 October 2023 .^a b c d "Drone attack kills 80 and wounds 240 at a packed Syrian military graduation ceremony, official says" .Associated Press . 2023-10-06. Retrieved2023-10-06 .^ "More than 60 dead in drone attack on military academy in Syria's Homs -war monitor, security source" .Reuters . Retrieved2023-10-05 .^ "Drone attack on Syria military academy leaves at least 60 dead" .France24 . Retrieved2023-10-05 .^ "Drone attack on Syria military college leaves dozens of casualties" .CNN . Retrieved2023-10-05 .^ "More than 60 dead from drone strike on Syrian military college - report" .i24 News . Retrieved2023-10-05 .^ "De-ath toll of "War College in Homs" | Nearly 130 combatants and civilians kil-led" .SOHR . 8 October 2023.^ Gritten, David (2023-10-06)."Syria war: At least 100 dead in drone attack on cadet graduation ceremony" .BBC . ^ "Health Ministry: number of martyrs from the terrorist attack on Military Academy in Homs rises to 89" . SANA. 6 October 2023.^ "Latest development | 54 civilians and 62 recently-graduated officers among 123 persons killed in unknown explosion in Homs military school" . SOHR. 6 October 2023.^a b Gritten, David (2023-10-06)."Syria war: Dozens killed in drone attack on graduation ceremony" .BBC . ^ "At least 100 killed in drone attack on Syrian military academy" .Reuters . 5 October 2023.^ "Funerals held in Syria for dozens of victims killed in deadliest attack in years" .Associated Press . 6 October 2023.^ "At least 100 killed in drone attack on Syrian military academy" .Reuters . 2023-10-05. Retrieved2023-10-05 .^ "استشهاد وإصابة 12 مدني بقصف لقوات النظام على ريفي حلب وإدلب ضمن مناطق "الهيئة".. وارتفاع عدد الشهداء في أقل من 24 ساعة إلى 15 مدني" . SOHR. 6 October 2023. Retrieved6 October 2023 .^ "In intense missile bombardment by regime forces, 6 civilians were martyred and injured in Idlib and its countryside" . 6 October 2023. Retrieved6 October 2023 .^ "Syria mourns dozens of people killed in Homs drone attack" .Aljazeera . 2023-10-06. Retrieved2023-10-06 .^ "In bombing by regime forces, 5 people were martyred, including children, in Termanin in the northern countryside of Idlib" . SOHR. 6 October 2023. Retrieved6 October 2023 .^ "Child among 3 killed, 30 injured in attacks by Russian, Syrian regime forces in northwestern Syria" . Anadolu Ajansı. 6 October 2023. Retrieved7 October 2023 .^ "بعد الهجوم الارهابي على الكلية الحربية في حمص.. الجيش السوري يستهدف مواقع المسلحين في ريفي حماة وإدلب.. والخارجية السورية تطالب الأمم المتحدة بمساءلة "رعاة الإرهاب" " .raialyoum.com (in Arabic). 5 October 2023.^ m.eyon (2023-10-05)."Syria condemns the cowardly terrorist attack that targeted Military Academy graduation ceremony- Foreign Ministry" .Syrian Arab News Agency . Retrieved2023-10-05 . ^ "Arab League strongly condemns the terrorist attack on Military Academy in Homs" . SANA. October 6, 2023.^ "Argentina condemns terrorist attack on Military Academy in Homs" . 8 October 2023.^ "Algeria condemns the terrorist attack on Military College, affirms its full solidarity with Syria" . SANA. October 6, 2023.^ "Armenia expresses deep condolences on victims of Military Academy's terrorist attack" . SANA. October 6, 2023.^ "President al-Assad receives a cable of condolence from Belarusian President on martyrs of the terrorist attack in Homs" . SANA. 6 October 2023.^ "Brazil expresses condolences to Syria for terrorist attack" . SANA. October 6, 2023.^ "Egypt expresses condolences to Syria for victims of terrorist attack on Military Academy" . SANA. 6 October 2023.^ "Iran strongly condemns Syria terrorist attack" .Mehr News Agency . 2023-10-06. Retrieved2023-10-06 .^ "Iraq condemns Homs attack, extends condolences to Syria" .Shafaq News .^ "Jordan condemns the terrorist attack on the Military College in Homs" . SANA. October 6, 2023.^ "Lebanese Foreign Ministry denounces the terrorist attack on Homs Military Academy" . 6 October 2023.^ "North Korea condemns attack in Syria" .Reuters . 8 October 2023.^ "جريدة عمان | سلطنة عُمان تُعزّي سوريا في ضحايا هجوم الكلية الحربية في مدينة حمص" (in Arabic). nabd.com. 5 October 2023.^ "الرئيس عباس يعزي الرئيس السوري بضحايا هجوم حمص" (in Arabic). sadanews.ps. 6 October 2023.^ "Romania offers condolences on victims of Military Academy's terrorist attack" . 7 October 2023.^ "Condolences to President of Syria Bashar al-Assad" . 6 October 2023.^ "Sudan condemns the terrorist attack on the Military Academy in Homs" . 6 October 2023.^ "UAE condemns terrorist attack that targeted military college in Syria" .wam . May 10, 2023.^ "Venezuela strongly condemns the terrorist attack on Military Academy in Homs" . SANA. 6 October 2023.^ "Roundup: Drone attack on Syrian military academy kills over 80-Xinhua" .english.news.cn .^ "Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General" . United Nations. 5 October 2023.^ "Berri cables condolences to Assad" .National News Agency . 6 October 2023.
20th c. 2000s 2010s 2020s ‡ indicates the terrorist attack which caused the greatest number of casualties
34°45′8.89″N 36°41′14.86″E / 34.7524694°N 36.6874611°E /34.7524694; 36.6874611