At least 13 soldiers were killed on Sunday when their bus was ambushed in the countryside of Syrian central province of Homs, state news agency SANA reported.

Officers were among the slain soldiers, whose bus was attacked in the desert region of the city of Palmyra in the countryside of Homs, said the report.

It added that 18 other soldiers were wounded by the "terrorist attack," which was carried out with the use of various weapons.