Mosque bombing in Syria leaves 6 dead and 21 wounded
BEIRUT — Tragedy struck a mosque in Homs, Syria, during Friday prayers as a bombing claimed the lives of at least six individuals and left 21 others injured, according to authorities.
Disturbing images released by Syria’s state-run Arab News Agency depicted the aftermath of the attack, showcasing bloodstains on the mosque’s carpets, structural damage, and signs of fire. The targeted mosque, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque, is situated in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood of Homs, a predominantly Alawite area.
Preliminary investigations, as reported by SANA citing a security source, suggest that explosive devices were strategically planted within the mosque. Authorities are actively pursuing the perpetrators of this heinous act as a security cordon has been established around the mosque, as confirmed by Syria’s Interior Ministry.
Sectarian tensions have been escalating in various regions of Syria in recent times, perpetuating the country’s instability amidst a backdrop of longstanding ethnic, sectarian, and political divides, despite a decline in large-scale conflict.
Since the ousting of President Bashar Assad last year, Syria has been plagued by multiple episodes of sectarian violence initiated by insurgents affiliated with the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Assad, who belongs to the Alawite sect, sought refuge in Russia following his removal from power, leading to a crackdown on members of his community. Notably, a previous ambush orchestrated by Assad loyalists triggered a series of sectarian attacks resulting in the deaths of hundreds, predominantly Alawites.
More recently, clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Aleppo have caused disruptions in the city, prompting temporary closures of educational and public institutions. However, a late-evening ceasefire was eventually declared by both factions in a bid to de-escalate the situation and protect civilians.
