At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds more injured in a drone attack on a Syrian military college in Idlib province. The attack, which struck at approximately 8:30am local time on Wednesday, is one of the deadliest in recent years and raises questions about the role of drones in the ongoing conflict in Syria.
The attack reportedly struck a facility staffed by a combination of Syrian soldiers and pro-government forces. The compound was allegedly targeted by a fleet of drones armed with bombs and explosives. According to witnesses, the first drone blast was followed by several more explosions.
The attack represents a major escalation of the Syrian conflict. It is believed to be the most significant drone attack in the region since 2013, when a similar attack occurred in Raqqa. However, this latest strike has been one of the deadliest in recent years with reports of over 80 people killed and hundreds more injured.
The Syrian military has blamed Islamist militants for the attack, claiming that they used small drones to launch the strikes from their hideouts in neighbouring Idlib countryside. However, the group responsible for the attack has yet to be identified and the motive for the strike remains unclear.
The attack has exacerbated an already volatile situation in Idlib province. In recent weeks, Turkish and Syrian forces have clashed in the area as international tension mounts over the Syrian government’s Idlib offensive.
The United Nations has condemned the strike as an appalling act of violence and urged all sides to refrain from further violence.
This tragic drone attack serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of the Syrian conflict. Such indiscriminate and emotional violence has only deepened the human and economic suffering in the region and put countless lives at risk.