International Desk (EFE) — At least eight people were killed and 18 others injured on Friday when a bomb exploded inside an Alawite mosque in the Syrian city of Homs during weekly noon prayers, in what authorities described as a “terrorist attack,” Syrian state media reported.
The explosion occurred at the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers, the most important of the week in Islam.
Initial investigations indicate that the explosive device had been planted inside the building, according to the state-run SANA news agency.
Attack during Friday prayers
Najib al-Naasan, head of emergencies at Syria’s Health Ministry, told SANA that the casualty figures remain preliminary as rescue teams continue to assess the aftermath of the blast.
The mosque belongs to the Alawite branch of Islam, a minority offshoot of Shiism traditionally associated with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted from power on Dec. 8, 2024.
Security forces cordoned off the area following the explosion as ambulances evacuated the wounded to nearby hospitals, while investigators began collecting evidence from the site.
Authorities blame terrorism
In a statement, Syria’s Interior Ministry labeled the bombing a “terrorist attack,” while the Foreign Ministry said it represented “a flagrant violation of human and moral values.”
The Foreign Ministry accused “remnants of the deposed regime” and the Islamic State (IS) group of seeking to undermine security and stability and “spread chaos in the country,” though it did not provide evidence linking the attack to a specific organization.
“No party has claimed responsibility for the attack so far,” the statement added.
Islamic State threat persists
The Islamic State group was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019, but Syrian authorities and international observers have repeatedly warned that the jihadist organization maintains sleeper cells and operational capacity, particularly in the country’s central desert region spanning several provinces.
In recent years, IS has carried out sporadic attacks against civilian and military targets, exploiting security gaps amid Syria’s prolonged conflict and political transition.
Friday’s bombing underscores continuing concerns over sectarian violence and the fragile security situation in parts of the country, as authorities seek to prevent renewed instability following the fall of Assad’s government.
Investigations into the Homs attack are ongoing, officials said, while security forces have been placed on heightened alert in religious sites across the region. EFE
int-mgr/seo
