13 Syrian Military Personnel Killed in Bomb Attack

Angelica Shilova

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

In Damascus, two roadside bombs have exploded near the Hafez al-Assad bridge, near a bus carrying troops. Syrian state TV reports 13 military personnel killed and three wounded. An army engineering unit have defused a third device, and officials reported that it was a “terrorist” blast. This blast had occurred during rush hour when people were heading to work and school. However, there is no claim of responsibility for the attack. 

In eastern Syria, there have been numerous attacks on army vehicles which are suspected to be by ISIL (ISIS) fighters who operate in the desert area. While blasts have been rare in Damascus, this blast been reported as the deadliest attacks in the capital since ISIL “claimed” to have hit the Justice Palace in March 2017 killing 30 people.

Sources and further reading:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/20/13-killed-in-damascus-army-bus-bombing-state-media

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/syria-bomb-attack-kills-13-military-personnel-in-damascus-1.4705494

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/explosion-destroys-army-bus-central-damascus-state-tv-2021-10-20/