Gunmen attack Syrian army bus in Hasakah countryside, several soldiers wounded

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Unidentified gunmen attacked a bus carrying Syrian Defense Ministry personnel in the northwestern countryside of Hasakah province, wounding several soldiers, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Tuesday. The Observatory said the vehicle was traveling on the road between Tell Tamer and Ras al-Ayn when it came under fire from assailants whose identities remain unknown. The Britain-based monitoring group said a number of military personnel were affected by the attack, including some who sustained serious injuries. It added that the exact number of wounded and any potential fatalities had not yet been confirmed. Following the attack, Syrian forces deployed to the area, imposed tightened security measures and stepped up military activity, according to the Observatory. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault. Syrian government authorities had not released an official statement on the incident as of Tuesday, and no further details were immediately available.