Bomb Detonates on Syrian Defence Ministry Bus; Soldiers Affected.

Damascus, Oct 16 (AP) - On Thursday, a bomb detonated on a Syrian Defence Ministry bus in the eastern part of the country, resulting in the deaths and injuries of several soldiers, as reported by state television. The explosion occurred on the route connecting the eastern cities of Deir el-Zour and Mayadeen, according to state-run Al-Ikhbariah TV. Details were sparse, but the report indicated a number of soldiers either perished or suffered injuries.

The soldiers were reportedly assigned to guard an oil facility in the oil-abundant region bordering Iraq. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, reported three soldiers were killed and nine others injured in the incident.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the region is known for harboring sleeper cells of the Islamic State group, which was defeated in Syria in 2019. The group, which once controlled significant parts of Syria and Iraq, opposes the new administration in Damascus led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa was formerly the leader of al-Qaida’s branch in Syria and had engaged in combat with IS forces. (AP) SCY SCY