Syria’s Health Minister has raised the death toll from Thursday’s drone strike that hit a military academy graduation ceremony in the central city of Homs to 80 dead and 240 wounded.

It was one of the deadliest attacks on the Syrian Army in recent years, with the conflict in the country entering its thirteenth year.

Health Minister, Hassan al-Ghabash, said civilians, including six children, and military personnel were among the casualties. There were concerns that the death toll could rise further, as many of the injured were in serious condition.

Terrorist groups targeted an officer promotion ceremony at the Homs military academy using drones carrying explosives shortly after the ceremony ended, the Syrian Army said earlier. It spoke of many dead, including military and civilians, and dozens of injuries, including officers and members of their families.

The military has declared that it will respond decisively to this cowardly, unprecedented terrorist attack. There has so far been no claim of responsibility for the attack. Jihadist organizations that control parts of Syrian territory sometimes use armed drones.

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