Deadly Blast at Syrian Mosque During Friday Prayers Kills Eight in Homs
An explosion ripped through a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs during Friday prayers, killing at least eight people and injuring 18 others in what authorities are calling a targeted attack on the Alawite minority.
The blast struck the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood around noon on December 26, 2025, as worshippers gathered for their weekly prayers.
Jihadist Group Claims Responsibility
The ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim Syrian group Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channels.
The same group previously took credit for a suicide bombing at a Damascus church in June that killed 20 people.
Rob Geist Pinfold, an international security lecturer at King's College London, described Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah as a violent entity with strong ties to ISIL (ISIS), stating their strategy is to target minority communities to incite tension and render Syria ungovernable.
Attack Targets the Alawite Community
The explosion targeted a predominantly Alawite area of Homs, a sect that has faced increasing violence since the fall of the Assad regime.
Syrian state news agency SANA cited a security source saying preliminary investigations indicate explosive devices were planted inside the mosque.
This incident recalls ongoing sectarian violence across Syria that has intensified following political transitions in the region.
Images released by Syria's state news agency depict the mosque with charred walls, shattered windows, and bloodstains on the carpeting.
The mosque's deputy imam told state television that worshippers "heard a loud explosion that knocked us to the ground," adding that fire broke out in one corner and burned copies of the Holy Quran.
Rising Sectarian Tensions
The Supreme Alawite Islamic Council condemned what it called "a continuation of the organized extremist terrorism specifically targeting the Alawite community".
The council held the Syrian government "fully and directly responsible for these crimes," warning that continued attacks risk driving the country toward collapse.
Since Assad's fall in 2024, the Observatory and residents in Homs province have reported kidnappings and killings targeting members of the minority community.
Late last month, thousands demonstrated on the Alawite coast in protest at fresh attacks targeting the minority in Homs and other regions.
International Condemnation
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "unequivocally condemned" the deadly attack, extending condolences to the families of those killed and expressing sympathy to all those injured.
Neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Lebanon, also condemned the attack.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed "Lebanon's support for Syria in its fight against terrorism".
Authorities placed a security cordon around the building as they searched for perpetrators, with the Syrian Health Ministry indicating the death toll could rise as investigations continued.
0 Comments