GOV’T ATTACKS OVER IDLIB INTENSIFY AS DRONE ATTACK ON SYRIAN MILITARY ACADEMY RISES ABOVE 100

People help a wounded person after a drone attack on a Syrian military academy in Homs, Syria on October 5, 2023 [Video screen grab]

Thu 05 October 2023:

More than 100 people have been killed in an attack on a military academy in Syria, a war monitor and an official said, with weaponised drones bombing the site minutes after Syria’s defence minister left a graduation ceremony there.

No one has claimed responsibility for the drone attack in Homs, which the Syrian government has only blamed on fighters “backed by known international forces”.

There is a lot of speculation Syrian opposition forces based in Idlib are behind the attack, and government shelling on Idlib since the Homs attack has indicated that is the regime’s working hypothesis.

Suspicion could also fall on ISIL (ISIS) remnants based in Syria’s central desert.

DRONE ATTACK ON SYRIAN MILITARY ACADEMY KILLS AT LEAST 50

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr pointed out that the long distances between Homs and the locations of the opposition and ISIL mean that it would be difficult for them to have carried out such an attack, but Joshua Landis, an American academic and Quincy Institute fellow, told Al Jazeera that the “use of drones” may give the factions in Idlib, in particular, the capability to carry out the attack.

There is also speculation that attack could be the result of internal division within the Syrian government, as dissatisfaction increases with the rule of President Bashar al-Assad and the economic situation in the country.

Complete blackout over parts of Idlib follow government shelling

Residents across Idlib say many towns and villages have been left in the dark after government forces targeted electricity stations.

“The bombing has led to a complete blackout in the city of Idlib,” resident Khaled Habak said.

“People are now in a state of terror and panic,” he added.

The number of dead from government attacks in opposition-held Idlib governorate has now risen to six, according to the Syria Civil Defence.

Syrian gov’t attacks over Idlib intensify, say White Helmets

Syrian government forces have escalated their artillery and missile attacks on villages and towns across the suburbs of Idlib in northwest Syria, says Mounir Mustafa, deputy director of the Syria Civil Defence (White Helmets).

“The terrorist attacks have continued throughout the day, targeting markets and schools in a systematic manner,” he tells Al Jazeera.

“Among the targeted sites are three schools, two in Sarmin and one in Al-Bara, an electricity company on the eastern outskirts of Idlib, and a Syria Civil Defence centre in the city of Ariha,” explains Mustafa.

“We call on the United Nations and the international community to put an end to these deadly terrorist attacks that threaten the lives of civilians. These attacks will continue unless those responsible are held accountable.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed his concern about the violence in Syria on Thursday, according to his spokesperson.

“The secretary-general is deeply concerned about the drone attack on a military academy graduation in Homs, which reportedly resulted in dozens of casualties, including civilians and numerous injuries,” Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

“The secretary-general is also deeply concerned about the retaliatory shelling by pro-government forces on multiple locations in northwest Syria and emerging reports of casualties,” he added.

Syria’s conflict began with protests against the president, Bashar al-Assad, in 2011 but spiralled into an all-out war that has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced.

The Syrian army has been gutted by the fighting, and relied heavily on military support from Russia and Iran as well as Tehran-backed fighters from Lebanon, Iraq and other countries.

Assad regained most of the country, but a swathe in the north bordering Turkey is still held by armed opposition groups, including hardline jihadist fighters.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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