Damascus: A bomb blast struck a Syrian Defence Ministry bus on Thursday in the country’s eastern region, killing and injuring several soldiers, state media reported.

According to state-run Al-Ikhbariah TV, the explosion occurred on the road connecting Deir el-Zour and Mayadeen. While details remain unclear, the broadcaster confirmed that multiple soldiers were killed or wounded. The personnel were reportedly tasked with guarding an oil facility in the resource-rich region bordering Iraq.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack left three soldiers dead and nine others injured. No group has yet claimed responsibility, but the area is known to host Islamic State sleeper cells.

Though IS was defeated in Syria in 2019 after losing control of vast territories, remnants of the group continue to stage sporadic attacks on government and security forces. The extremist outfit remains hostile to the current authority in Damascus, led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida affiliate leader who previously fought battles against the Islamic State.

With inputs from PTI