Egypt has strongly condemned a deadly drone attack on a military academy in Syria’s western city of Homs, expressing solidarity with the Syrian nation.
A drone attack on Thursday targeted the Homs Military Academy during a graduation ceremony for military cadets, leaving at least 89 dead and more than 270 wounded.
The gruesome act of terrorism, carried out by drones laden with explosives, shook Syria and sparked international outrage.
In a statement on Friday, Egypt’s foreign ministry said that Egypt “condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attack.”
“Egypt extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to the government, the people of the brotherly state of Syria, and the families of the victims, praying to God to shower them with His mercy, and expressing its wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured,” the statement added.
It also stressed that Cairo “renews its firm position rejecting all forms of violence and terrorism,” while “calling on the international community to intensify efforts to eradicate terrorism from its roots and dismantle the sources of its support and financing.”
The aerial aggression killed civilians, including six children, as well as military personnel, and according to Syria’s health ministry, there are concerns the death toll could rise as many of the injured are in serious condition.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which is considered as one of the deadliest attacks on the war-torn country’s army in years. However, the Syrian army on Thursday blamed foreign-backed “terrorist groups” for the attack, vowing to “respond with full force.”
The Syrian government has declared three days of mourning starting from Friday.
Several countries have so far condemned the deadly attack.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian denounced the attack in a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad on Thursday.
During the call, Iran’s top diplomat stressed that Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi also decried the regimes that support terrorists and provide them with advanced military equipment to commit their atrocities.
Ali Al-Khatib, the vice president of the Shia Islamic Supreme Council of Lebanon, also on Thursday strongly condemned the attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country significantly helped Syria confront foreign-sponsored terrorism in the Arab country, also vowed on Friday to help Damascus fight terrorism.
“We resolutely condemn this cruel crime which murdered many women and children. We hope that its masterminds will be justly punished. We intend to continue to closely interact with our Syrian partners in fighting all forms and manifestations of terrorism,” Putin said in a message to his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.
