According to Vadim Kulit, deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, militants in Syria's Idlib are planning a provocation using toxic substances to discredit Russian forces in Syria, and they have already delivered chlorine to the town of Arihah.

During a briefing, Kulit explained that information received by the center indicated that leaders of the "terrorist groups operating in the southern part of the Idlib de-escalation zone are preparing a provocation using toxic substances, aimed at discrediting the grouping of troops (forces) of the Russian armed forces in Syria. "

Kulit also expressed that "Representatives of the pseudo-humanitarian organization White Helmets, acting in coordination with terrorists of the Jabhat al-Nusra group, delivered six containers of chlorine to the area of the town of Arihah."

According to the military officer, terrorists want to "stage" the use of hazardous chemicals following Russian attacks on their strongholds.

A drone attack launched on Thursday targeted a military academy in Homs, Syria, during a graduation ceremony for officers, Syrian state media reported.

Reportedly, a loitering munition targeted the ceremony and left numerous martyred, with the toll of casualties ranging in the dozens.

"Armed terrorist organizations targeted the graduation ceremony for officers of the military academy in Homs", a military statement reported on by the state-owned SANA news agency said.

The Syrian Arab Army decried the "cowardly... unprecedented" attack and underlined that they would "respond fiercely to all terrorist organizations wherever they are," pledging to hold the perpetrators and the masterminds behind the attack accountable.

The attack comes one day after the Syrian Arab Army units targeted the headquarters of armed groups across Idlib's countryside in northern Syria. 

As a result of the heavy artillery targeting the militias, a number were killed and others were wounded. Simultaneously, the Syrian army announced they had shot down two drones belonging to armed groups in northern Aleppo.