A missile attack targeted the bus near an oil station in the Syrian desert region between Homs and Deir al-Zour provinces in Syria, said state news agency SANA, citing a military source.

It said that the IS militants have repeatedly carried out such attacks from the area that is controlled by the US forces in the al-Tanf region.

Since 2019, a total of 1,625 government forces and allied fighters have been killed by IS ambushes in the desert region.

The IS influence has largely decreased following its massive defeat in Syria. However, the terror-designated group still frequently carries out attacks in the desert region.